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THE    LIFE 


REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  A.M. 


REV.  EDWIN  SIDNEY,  A.  M. 


Quitting,  with  daily  labour,  all  my  pleasure. 
To  gain,  at  harvest,  an  eternal  treasure. 

Herbert. 


FIRST  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


NEW  YORK: 
D.  APPLETON  &  CO.  200  BROADWAY. 

STEREOTYPED  BY  CONNER  &  COOKE. 
1634. 


WM.  VAN  NORDEN,  PRINTER,  111  NASSAU  ST. 


TO  THE 

RIGHT  HON.  ROWLAND,  LORD  HILL, 

OP  ALMAREZ  AND  OF  HAWKSTONE, 

G.  C.  B.,  G.  C.  H.,  K.  T.  S.,  K.  M.  T.,  K.  S.  G.,  D.  C.  L., 

COMMANDER  OF  HIS  JUJESTY's  FORCES, 
&C.  &c.  &c., 

THIS  VOLUME, 

IN   THE    FULL    ASSURANCE    HOW   GRATIFYING 

SUCH  A  DEDICATION  WOULD  HAVE  BEEN  TO  THE  VENERABLE 

SUBJECT  OF  ITS  PAGES, 

WITH  HIS  lordship's  KIND  PERMISSION 

IS  INSCRIBED  BY 

THE  AUTHOR 


:il)'lGSD 


PREFACE. 


The  last  evening  I  ever  spent  with  Mrs.  Rowland 
Hill,  she  expressed  a  wish,  that  if  I  survived  her 
venerable  and  beloved  husband,  I  should  \vrite  an 
authentic  narrative  of  his  remarkable  life,  and  I  pro- 
mised her  that  I  would,  if  possible,  fulfil  her  desire. 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  acquiescing  in  this  request,  be- 
queathed me  all  his  papers,  "  ^o  he  iised  at  my  dis- 
ct'etion."  I  have  now  performed  my  promise,  but 
with  more  haste,  on  account  of  the  anxiety  of  his 
friends,  than  was  convenient  or  advantageous  :  with 
what  discretioyi  I  must  leave  others  to  determine. 
My  readers,  however,  will  doubtless  consider  the 
unique  character  I  have  had  to  portray,  and  will 
recollect  that  Mr.  Hill's  truly  solid  excellences  were 
mingled,  even  in  public,  with  a  vivacity  and  hu- 
mour peculiar  to  himself  Had  I  mentioned  only 
serious  facts,  it  might  have  been  justly  remarked, 
that,  excellent  as  the  individual  appeared,  it  was  not 
Rowland  Hill.  Still,  I  trust,  it  will  be  seen  in  these 
pages,  that  his  true  piety,  christian  benevolence,  and 
deep  spirituality,  more  than  atoned  for  any  trifling 
singularities  of  his  nature,  or  sallies  of  wit,  which 
were  mostly  accompanied  with  so  much  kindness, 
that,  like  a  medicine  given  in  sweetmeats,  the  bitter 
was  seldom  tasted. 

I  have  made  such  selections  from  the  papers  of  my 
1* 


6  PREFACE. 

affectionate  guardian  as  I  thought  most  useful  and 
interesting ;  and  if  I  have  erred,  I  can  only  plead 
my  inexperience  as  an  author ;  but  most  truly  can  I 
add,  that  it  has  been  my  aim  not  to  give  the  slightest 
pain  to  the  feelings  of  any  human  being.  Mine  has 
been  a  task  of  no  ordinary  delicacy  and  responsi- 
bility; and  while  I  have  not  concealed  my  own 
opinions,  I  hope  they  have  been  expressed  in  a  spi- 
rit of  christian  charity  towards  such  as  may  differ 
from  my  views. 

Amongst  the  papers  left  for  my  use,  I  found  letters 
and  manuscripts  of  the  late  Sir  Richard  Hill,  toge- 
ther with  an  interesting  account  of  his  conversion 
and  early  experience.  I  intended,  at  first,  to  have 
extracted  largely  from  these  docliments  in  the  course 
of  this  volume ;  but  it  was  suggested  to  me,  that  by 
so  doing,  I  should  too  much  interrupt  the  thread  of 
my  narrative,  and  that  they  were  much  more  proper 
for  a  Life  of  Sir  Richard  Hill.  Many  years  ago  a 
manuscript,  containing  five  sermons  on  "  Charity,  or 
Brotherly  Love,"  b}^  Walker,  of  Truro,  was  given 
to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  which  he  intended  to  have 
printed  with  a  memoir  of  the  author,  and  to  have 
dedicated  the  volume  to  his  Surry  chapel  congrega- 
tion. In  the  notice  of  Mr.  Walker's  Life,  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  observes  of  the  sermons — "  these  have  been 
in  my  possession  for  a  considerable  time,  yet  on  a 
re-perusal  of  them  with  a  judicious  friend,  it  struck 
me  forcibly,  whether  in  my  fast  declining  days  I 
could  leave  behind  me  a  more  profitable  testimony 


PREFACE.  7 

of  my  high  respect  and  real  regard  to  the  congrega- 
tion I  have  so  long  served,  than  to  print  these  ser- 
mons for  their  serious  perusal  and  prayerful  consi- 
deration." I  may  possibly  be  induced  to  form  a  small 
volume  from  these  interesting  portions  of  the  papers 
of  my  departed  relative. 

To  those  who  have  kindly  assisted  me  with  mate- 
rials for  the  work,  I  beg  to  offer  my  sincere  thanks, 
particularly  to  the  Rev.  George  Clayton,  the  Rev. 
George  CoUison,  the  Rev.  John  Griffin,  Mr.  Jones, 
of  the  Religious  Tract  Society,  and  the  members  of 
Surry  chapel  who  have  sent  me  letter^  of  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill.  I  am  likewise  much  indebted  to  the  kind- 
ness of  O.  P.  Wathen,  Esq.,  John  Broadley  Wilson, 
Esq.,  Samuel  Long,  Esq.,  (the  executor  both  of  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  Theophilus 
Jones,)  as  well  as  to  Mrs.  James,  (late  Mrs.  B.  Neale,) 
Miss  Sheppard,  and  to  others  whose  names  appear 
in  the  course  of  the  volume.  Though  differing  from 
some  of  these  friends  in  minor  views,  I  trust  we  are 
all  united  in  the  common  ties  of  christian  love  and 
goodwill,  looking  for  salvation  to  one  common  Sa- 
viour, and  believing  in  the  essential  operations  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  heart,  none  of  which  is  more  pro- 
minent than  that  of  charity,  the  very  bond  of  per- 
fectness. 

Though  sincerely  respecting  the  conscientious 
scruples  of  others,  I  cannot  help  venturing  to  express 
my  devoted  attachment  to  our  established  church, 
and  my  conviction  that  its  connexion  with  the  state 


8  PREFACE. 

has  been,  and  I  hope  will  long  continue  to  be,  a 
blessing  to  our  land.  If  we  look  at  the  present  as- 
pect of  religion  amongst  us,  I  am  firmly  convinced 
that  our  establislmient  need  not  shrink  from  compa- 
rison, both  as  respects  its  own  internal  brightness 
and  the  distant  reflection  of  its  light,  with  any  other 
Christian  community  on  earth.  The  ministers  of 
religion  should  be  suited  to  every  grade  of  society : 
from  their  ranks  the  gentleman  should  be  able  to 
select  a  profitable  companion,  the  inquirer  a  judi- 
cious guide,  and  the  poor  man  a  kind  and  compas- 
sionate friend  ;  and,  happily,  men  endued  with  such 
requisites  for  their  sacred  office  can  be  at  this  mo- 
ment abundantly  supplied,  from  the  ranks  of  our 
parochial  clergy.  Increasing  holiness  to  purify  is 
the  surest  forerunner  of  power  afforded  from  on  high 
to  protect  our  church,  and  the  zeal,  diligence,  and  piety 
of  her  ministers,  will  prove  a  more  certain  defence, 
than  all  the  splendours  of  worldly  grandeur,  the  policy 
of  worldly  wisdom,  or  the  support  of  worldly  strength. 
I  have  now  only  to  request  that  the  firiends  of  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  will  confide  to  me  such  letters  or  other 
materials  as  they  may  think  useful  for  any  future 
edition  of  his  life,  and  to  add.  that  I  shall  be  truly 
obliged,  if  I  have  fallen  into  any  accidental  error, 
relating  either  to  persons  or  things  mentioned  in 
these  pages,  to  be  informed  of  my  mistake,  that  I  may 
correct  it. 

Adc,  near  Norwich,  March  22nd,  1834. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGB 

Antiquity  of  the  Hill  family 17 

The  Great  Hill       18 

The  Hawkstoue  family,  and  birth  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill    .  21 

Rowland  Hill  in  childhood ■.  23 

His  conversion  when  a  boy 24 

Letter  of  Mr.  Richard  Hill  addressed  to  his  brothers  at  Eton  24 

Mr.  Richard  Hill's  early  sense  of  religion 26 

Mr.  Richard  Hill's  distress  of  mind 26-27 

Kindness  of  Mr.  Fletcher 28 

Reliefof  Mr.  Richard  Hill's  mind    .........  28 

His  anxiety  for  his  brother  Rowland 29 

Rowland's  progress  in  religion 30 

Is  made  useful  at  Eton 31 

A  religious  society  formed  by  the  young  converts.    Candour 

of  Mr.  Richard  Hill     .     .     .    " 32 

Advice  of  Miss  Hill  to  her  brother  Rowland  before  his  going 

to  Cambridge 33 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  at  Cambridge 34 

His  acquaintance  sought  by  Mr.  Berridge 34 

His  frequent  visits  to  Everton 35 

Begins  preaching  while  an  undergraduate  at  Cambridge, 

1766    ...    : 36 

Meets  with  great  opposition.    Consults  Mr.  Whitefield. 

Mr.  Whitefield's  first  letter 3'' 

Extracts  from  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  diary,  1767      ....  38 

His  perseverance  in  preaching 40 

Second  letter  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  who  encourages  him  to 

proceed 40 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  continues  to  labour 42 

Is  visited  in  college  bj'  two  pious  Danes.    An  extract  from 

their  diary       43 

Long  vacation  of  1767.    Third  letter  of  Mr.  Whitefield      44-4.5 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  preaches  while  at  home 45 

Fourth  letter  of  Mr.  Whitefield 46 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  depression.    Extracts  from  his  diary  .  47 

He  visits  Lady  Huntingdon 48 

Returns  to  Cambridge 48 

Correspnnds  with  zealous  young  men  at  Oxford  ....  49 
Expulsion  of  .six  students  from  St.  Edmund's  Hall,  Oxford, 

1768 50 

Their  cause  espoused  by  Mr.  Richard  Hill 52 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  continues  his  exertions 53 


10  CONTENTS. 

His  skill  in  athletic  exercises 54 

Takes  his  degree.     1769       55 

The  diflereni  views  of  his  college  friends.    Influence  of  Mr. 

Berridge 56 

Account  of  Mr.  Berridge  and  his  coadjutors 56 

John  Stittle 57 

CHAPTER  II. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  refused  orders  by  six  bishops    ....  59 

Condolence  of  his  friends 60 

Advice  of  Mr.  Berridge 61 

Mr.  Richard  Hill  declines  preaching 62 

Scruples  of  some  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  friends  about  sub- 
scription        63 

Mr.  Berridge  and  -his  followers.     His  advice  to  Mr.  Row- 
land Hilf 63 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  is  commended  by  Mr.  Wesley.     1770    .  64 

His  first  visits  to  Bristol,  and  distress.     1771 65 

Extracts  from  his  diary.    First  sermon  at  Devizes     ...  66 

Letter  of  Mr.  Berridge 67 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  journal 68-6S 

Field  preaching       71 

Early  five  o'clock  preaching "72 

June  16,  1771.    Comes  for  the  first  time  to  Wotton-tmder- 

edge.     Anecdote       72-73 

Letter  from  Shipman,  one  of  the  expelled  from  Oxford       .  74 

Letter  of  Mr.  Hunt,  of  Bristol,  1772 74-75 

Anecdote 75 

Letter  of  Mr.  Berridge    .     .    .  > 76 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  revives  Mr.  Whitefield's  cause  in  Lon- 
don, 1772.     His  wonderful  success 77 

Captain  Joss.     Butcher  Hogg       78-79 

An  address  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  1772 80 

His  views  of  the  divine  decrees 81 

His  defence  of  his  doctrines  against  Mr.  Wesley  ,    ...  82 

CHAPTER  m. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  prepares  for  marriage  and  orders      .    .  83 

His  first  letter  to  Miss  Tudway 84 

Mr.  Tudway's  interest  in  his  ordination 86 

Letters  to  Miss  Tudway       86 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  journal,  1773 90-91 

Letter  to  Miss  Tudway 91 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  prospect  of  orders 92 

His  marriage  and  ordination 93 

Preaches  his  first  sermon  after  ordination  in  St.  Werburghs, 

Bristol.     Account  of  Mr.  Rouquet 94 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  at  his  curacy 96 

Letter  from  Mr.  Berridge 96 

Berridge  and  Fletcher.     Ryland.    Hervey.    Newton     .     .  97 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  refused  priest's  orders.     His  own  remark  98 


CONTENTS.  11 

Is  pleased  when  invited  to  preach  in  a  church ;  but  wants  a 

little  more  liberty  than  the  church  allows 99 

His  unequalled  strength  and  spirits 99 

Sheridan.     Ambrose  Serle.     Dean  Milner    ....      100-101 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Mr.  Hill's  first  sermon  in  1774,  at  Tottenham  Court  chapel. 

His  journal 102 

Richmond ;  awful  event       103 

Gloucester,  Wiltshire,  Wales 104 

Field  campaigns.     Anecdote  of  Howel  Harris 105 

Popularity  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  Wales.    Jumpers      105-106 

Remarkable  conversions       106 

Trevecca.    Wesleyan  controversy 107-111 

Wotton       .112 

Increasing  congregations  in  every  place  visited  by  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill.     Varied  scenes  of  labour  ........  113 

Death  of  Mr.  Powys,  1774.     Sir  Charles  Middleton,  after- 
wards Lord  Barham 114 

Love-feasts.     Sailors 115 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  stopped  by  highwaymen;  he  frightens 

them  away       116 

His  mode  of  giving  notice  of  his  preaching 117 

Anecdote  of  a  gardener  employed  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill     .  118 

Mr,  Rowland  Hill's  unwearied  diligence 119 

CHAPTER  V. 

Remarkable  conversions.     1775 120 

Societas  Evangelica.    Penitents •   .     .     .     .  121 

Notices  given  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  the  pulpit    ....  122 

Characteristic  anecdote 122 

Sir  Harry  Trelawny 123-124 

Mistakes  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 125 

Mr.  Richard  Hill.     Mr.  Hall  ward 126 

Hon.  and  Rev.  W.  B.  Cadogan.     Death  of  Rouquet  .     .     .  127 

Funeral  sermon       128 

Sunday  addresses  to  children 129 

Prison  scenes — deep  feeling  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill      .     .     .  129 

Continuance  of  the  Wesleyan  controvers}'^,  1777    ....  131 
Death  and  funeral  of  Toplady,  1778.     Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 

powerful  address  at  the  interment 132 

Letter  of  Mr.  Matthews,  giving  an  account  of  the  last  mo- 
ments of  Toplady 133-134 

Wesley  and  Mr.  Richard  Hill 135 

Newton..    Roraaine.    Cowper  the  poet 136 

Design  of  the  erection  of  Surry  chapel 137 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Surry  chapel.     1782 139 

Sermon  at  laying  the  foundation-stone 140 


12  CONTENTS. 

Sermon  at  the  opening.    June  8,  1783.    Alarming  occur- 
rence        141 

Original   trustees  of  Surry  chapel.     Mr.   Rowland   Hill 

shot  at 142-143 

Death  of  Sir  Rowland  Hill.     Supplies  at  Surry  chapel  .     .  143 

Benevolent  Society.     1784 114 

Alms  houses.     Dorcas  Society,  &c 145 

Prayer  meetings 146 

Situation  of  Surry  chapel 147 

Sir  Richard  Hill 148 

Spread  of  infidelity 149 

Welsh  sermons  in  Surry  chapel 150 

Letter  of  Peter  Brown,  a  Moravian  missionary  in  Antigua  151 

Missions 155 

Mr.  Venn,  of  Yelling.  His  letter  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  .  156 
Testimony  of  Mr.  Venn  to  the  high  and  useful  character  of 

Mr.  Simeon,  of  Cambridge 158 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Sunday  schools,  1786 160 

Mr.  Rowland  HilUs  Hymns  for  children  corrected  and  im- 
proved by  the  poet  Cowjier.     His  letter  on  the  subject     .     161 

Remarks  on  an  expression  in  Cowper's  letter 162 

A  happy  death.     Illness  of  Mr.  Venn.     His  patience  and 

resignation  expressed  in  a  letter.     1791 163 

Extraordinarj'  conversions 164 

Anecdote  of  Mr.  Rowland  HiU 165 

Modes  of  preaching  described.  Droll  sayings  .  .  .  166-167 
Wise   course  pursued  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  during  the 

French  revolution 167-168 

Death  of  Mr.  Berridge 169 

Ireland.  Strolling  players.  Expostulatory  address  .  169-170 
Formation  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  1795  .  171-172 
Missionary  day  at  Surry  chapel.     Instance  of  generosity. 

Conversation  in  the  evening 173-175 

Missionarv  communion    .     .    .    . 176 

Dr.  Steinkopff.     Ireland 176-177 

First  visit  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  Scotland,  1798       .      177-183 

Return  to  Wotton 183 

Admonition  of  the  General  Assembly.    Establishments     184-185 
Effects  of  controversv  during  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  second 
visit  to  Scotland,  1^99 186-187 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  mode  of  preaching 189  to  301 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Religious  Tract  Society'.     Moving  speeches 202 

Characteristic  letter  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  when  asked  to 
take  the  chair  at  a  meeting 203 


CONTENTS.  - 13 

Long  speeches  and  flourishes  in  the  pulpit.     Interesting;  no- 
tice handed  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  the  pulpit    .     .      '204-205 

Visits  to  the  sick.     Hymn 206 

Village  Dialogues 207 

Letters  of  Mr.  Ambrose  Serle 208-211 

Sale  of  curates .    212 

Warning  to  professors.     Opinion  of  Mr.  Ambrose  Serle     .    213 

Surry  chapel  communicants 214 

Bible  Society , 214-215 

Vaccination.     Dr.  Jenner 21fi 

Converted  farmers       216-217 

Death  of  Sir  Richard  Hill,  1808 218 

Cheltenham.    A  chapel  erected  there  through  Mr.  Rowland 

Hill's  influence 218 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  amusements 219-220 

CHAPTER  X. 

My  own  recollections  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 221 

Anecdotes 222-223 

An  election  anecdote 224 

Cheltenham.     Accident  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill    .    .     .      225-226 

Visit  to  Cheltenham,  1812 227 

Services  of  Sir  Rowland  Hill.     His  kindness.     Called  "  the 

soldier's  friend."  Elected  member  for  Shrewsbury  228-229 
Illuminations.  Tran.sparency  at  Surry  chapel  ....  230 
Lord  Hill.    Interesting  breakfast.    Receives  his  sword  from 

the  city  of  London 231 

Illness  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill.     His  letters  to  Mr.  Wathen 

when  recovering       232-236 

His  first  walk  after  he  recovered.     An  aid-de-camp  of  the 

Emperor  Alexander 236-237 

CHAPTER  XL 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  opinion  of  the  festivities  at  the  conclu' 

sion  of  the  war 239 

Singular /rtiz^wes  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill.    CLualifications  of 

preachers     240-241 

The  Neale  family 241 

Letters  from  Mr." Rowland  Hill  to  Mrs.  B.  Neale.    Attempt 

to  assess  Surry  chapel  to  the  rates 242-245 

Churchmen  and  dissenters 246 

Interesting  anecdote 247 

Oratorios  at  Surry  chapel 248 

Theophilus  Jones.     Advice  given  him  by  Mr.  Rowland 

Hill.     1816 248-251 

Village  preaching 252 

dualifications  for  the  ministerial  work.    Gtood  temper.    Dry 

sermons,  «Su; .      353-264 


14  CONTENTS.  I 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Village  itinerancy 255-25<5 

Letter  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  a  Sunday  school  teacher  257-258 

Necessity  of  exertions  at  home 259 

Seamen.     Waterloo  bridge       260 

Missionary  museum.     Matthew  Wilks 261 

Fruits  of  missionary  zeal 262 

Inconsistencies  of  professors  of  religion 263 

South  seas       2G4 

Letter  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  Mrs.  B.  Neale 265 

Accident  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 266 

Letter  to  Mr.  Jones.     Sanctified  affliction.     Holy  patience. 

Rebukes       267-268 

Mr.  Hill  on  a  missionary  tour.  Letters  to  Mr.  Jones,  to  J. 
Broadley  Wilson,  Esq.,  and  to  a  young  minister  in  sick- 
ness           269-274 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  society  at  Surry  chapel 275 

Letter  to  the  author  on  his  ordination,  1821,  from  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill 276-278 

Missionary  journey 279 

Act  of  liberality 280 

Eastern  missionary  tour.     Accident  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill. 

Letter  to  Mr.  Jones.     Recovery 280-284 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  mode  of  travelling,  and  high  spirits  284 
Arduous  journey.     Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  last  journey  to  Scot- 
land, 1824    . 285-290 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Pastoral  character,  ministerial  advice,  and  charities  of  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill       291-301 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  presents  for  children.  Sends  some  to 
Mrs.  Hannah  More,  with  an  imitation  of  Sternhold  and 
Hopkins.     Her  remarks 302 

Mrs.  Rowland  Hill  submits  to  a  severe  operation.  Her 
danger  and  recovery.     Socinians       303-305 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  at  eighty-two.  Spirituality  of  his  ser- 
mons             305-306 

His  likeness  taken  by  Miss  Sheppard  for  a  benevolent  pur- 
pose.    His  letters  on  the  subject 307 

Journey  into  Wales,  1827 312 

Affection  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  hearers.  Lord  Hill.  Mr. 
J.  Broadley  Wilson    fk 313-314 

Cheltenham.     Mr.  Close^ 315 

Fidelity  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  servants 316 


CONTENTS.  15 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Prophecy.     Letter  on  the  subject  from  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  317 

1828.     Bath.     Mr.  Jay 320 

Cheltenham.     P's  and  Cl's. .  321 

Religion  a  reality 321 

A  visit  in  1829  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  at  Wotton    ....  322 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  on  his  eighty-fifth  birth  day      ....  323 

A  church  missionary  meeting 325 

Letter  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 326 

Bible  Society,  1830 328 

Mr.  Wilberforce.     Lord  Teignmouth 329 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

An  account  of  the  last  illness  and  death  of  Mrs.  Rowland 

Hill 331 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  state  of  mind  under  his  bereavement 

evinced  by  his  letters 333-335 

Character  of  Mrs.  Rowland  Hill       336 

Letter  to  Mr.  Jones  on  attending  the  Monday  evening  meet- 
ings at  Surry  chapel 337 

Leamington.     Difficulties  about  using  the  liturgy  in  Mr. 

Hill's  chapel.     What  sort  of  an  evil  is  a  sectarian  spirit  1  338 

Forms  of  prayer 339 

Letters  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 339-342 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  views  as  to  his  successor 343 

CHAPTER  XVIIL 

Bible  Society,  1831 345 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  last  missionary  day  at  Surry  chapel    .  346 

-Gift  of  tongues 347-350 

Accident  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 350 

Valley  of  humiliation 351 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  recovers  after  great  sufiering.     Letters 

of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 352-355 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  increasing  debility.  His  faith  .  .  .  355 
Wishes  to  attend  the  Bible  Society  in  1832.     The  author's 

last  visit  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  at  Wotton  ....       356-358 

Letter  to  Rev.  J.  Langley 359 

Old  Bigotry 361 

Letter  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 361 

Party  spirit 362 

Solemn  deportment  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 363 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Christian  sabbath.    Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  enjoyment  of  it  365 
Some  of  the  ladies  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  congregation  pre- 
sent him  with  an  easy  chair  for  the  pulpit.     His  letter  of 

thanks 367 

He  desires  to  be  succeeded  by  a  clergyman 368 


16  CONTENTS. 

Is  of  opinion  that  the  clergy  should  have  power  to  admit 

certain  visiters  to  their  pulpits 368 

Proposal  for  a  droll  advertisement 369 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  /(/.s7.  letter  to  the  author 370 

His  la.st  sermon,  March  31,  1833 371 

Address  to  Sunday  school  teachers.  Last  illness  .  .  372-376 
Death,  April  11,  1833.     A  beautiful  cast  taken  of  him  by 

Deville.     The  funeral       376-378 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  spotless  character.  Anecdotes  .  379-380 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  appearance.     Danger  of  imitating  his 

extraordinary  course 381-383 

Beautiful  saying  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill.    His  writings     .     .    383 

Juvenile  works 384 

Village  Dialogues 385 

Responsibility  of  ministers.     Tablet  and  bust  to  the  memory 

of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  designed  for  Surry  chapel     .      385-387 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Retrospective  view  of  religion  during  the  last  century    .     .    388 

Defective  theology 388 

Lukewarmness  and  error  in  some,  exceptions  in  others. 

Opposition 389-390 

Whitefield  and  "Wesley.     Difference  of  their  dispositions. 

Conversion       390-391 

Enthusiasm  of  Wesley.  Wesley's  sermon  on  predestina- 
tion           392-393 

Romaine.     Sir  Harry  Trelawny.     Anecdote     .     .     .      393-394 

Edward  Spencer 394 

Berndge 395 

Whiteheld's  want  of  system 396 

Wesley's  watch  nights.     Love-feasts.     Classes.     Bands. 

Whitefield's  evident  sincerity 397 

Controver.sy.  Berridge's  advice  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  .  .  398 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  resemblance  to  Whitefield,  whose  cause 

he  revives 399 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  first  sermon  at  his  curacy,  called  T%e 
Gofpcl  Message,  quoted  in  proof  of  his  doctrines.  Origi- 
nal sin     ....      399-400 

Invitations  to  sinners.    Extract  from  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 

sermon  on  the  death  of  Rouquet 401 

Plato's  view  of  human  nature.     Union  of  good  men    .     .     .     402 
Admirable  resolution  of  John  Wesley  forgotten  in  contro- 
versy.    Perfection 403-405 

Mr.  Fletcher : 405 

Sunday  schools.     Education 406 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  regard  for  the  church 407 

Preparation  for  the  ministry 408 

Value  of  Academical  studies 409 

Excellencies  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  character  .  .  .  410-411 
Conclusion .,,...    412 


THE   LIFE 


OF  THE 


REV.  ROWLAND  HILL 


CHAPTER  I. 

ANTICIUITY  OF  THE  HILL  FAMILY. 

The  distinguished  family  of  the  Hills  is  both  an- 
cient and  widely  extended.  It  is  probable  that  their 
original  seat  was  at  HuUe,  now  called  Court  of  Hill, 
an  elevated  and  beautiful  spot  on  the  south  side  of  a 
hill,  named  the  Titterstone  Clee,  in  the  chapelry  of 
Nash,  and  parish  of  Eurford,  in  the  county  of  Salop. 
Mr.  Blakeway,  a  very  eminent  and  accurate  Shrop- 
shire antiquary,  informs  us,  that  the  earliest  notice  he 
has  found  of  them  is  in  the  30th  of  Edward  I.,  in  a 
deed  granted  to  certain  persons  by  the  prior  and  monks 
of  Worcester,  and  which  is  attested,  among  other 
witnesses,  by  William  and  Adam  de  la  Hull  ;  to  the 
former  of  whom  it  is  also  upon  record  that  lands  were 
granted,  by  William  de  Mortimer,  canon  of  Hereford, 
at  a  period  of  as  early  a  date  as  December  ISth,  1311. 
Grants  of  land,  it  has  likewise  been  ascertained,  were 
made  to  the  then  existing  chaplain  of  Nash,  by  Wil- 
liam de  la  HuUe,  to  pray  for  the  souls  of  himself, 
Alice  his  late  wife,  and  two  others,  in  the  5th  of 
Edward  HI.  William  de  la  Hulle  had  a  son  called 
Hugh  de  Hull  of  Hull,  who  married  and  removed 
into  the  north-eastern  quarter  of  Shropshire,  and  from 
him  was  descended  Sir  Rowland  Hill,  the  first  protes- 
t9.nt  lord  mayor  of  London,  who  died  without  issue, 
2* 


18  THE  GREAT  HILL. 

and  bequeathed  his  large  estates  to  the  children  of 
his  sisters.  From  a  younger  son  of  this  branch  of  the 
family,  who  was  a  person  of  consideration  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  VI.,  descended  a  Rowland  Hill,  styled  of 
Hawkstone,  in  1592,  who  was  father  of  Rowland 
Hill,  born  in  1594,  and  he  of  another  Rowland,  born 
in  1623,  who  died  and  was  buried  at  Hodiiet,  in  No- 
vember, 1700.  His  eldest  son  of  his  own  name  died 
unmarried,  and  Richard  his  second  son  became  the 
great  founder  of  this  branch  of  the  family.  This 
remarkable  person  was  born  March  23,  1654.  He 
was  educated  at  the  grammar  school  in  Shrewsbury, 
and  entered  at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  in  1675. 
He  became  a  fellow  of  his  college,  and  is  reported  to 
have  entered  into  deacon's  orders,  which  was  no  doubt 
the  case,  as  there  is  good  authority  for  the  fact  that 
king  William  III.  highly  commended  "  his  vigilance, 
capacity,  and  virtue,"  in  the  exercise  of  his  clerical 
functions.  Mr.  Hill  was  engaged  by  Laurence  Earl 
of  Rochester,  on  account  of  his  distinguished  talents, 
as  tutor  to  his  son  Lord  Hyde,  and,  while  in  this 
situation,  he  was  noticed  by  the  Earl  of  Ranclagh, 
paymaster  of  the  forces  to  king  James,  and  continued 
in  the  same  office  by  king  William,  on  whose  recom- 
mendation he  was  appointed  deputy  paymaster  to 
the  army  sent  into  Flanders  in  1691.  In  this  office, 
which  he  held  during  the  whole  war,  he  acquitted 
himself  with  great  reputation.  He  prevented,  by  his 
conciliatory  and  judicious  conduct,  the  mutiny  of  the 
soldiers  for  want  of  pay,  during  a  whole  campaign, 
and  was  in  very  high  credit  with  the  Dutch.  Nay, 
it  has  been  even  said  that  he  sometimes  could  raise 
money  upon  his  own  credit,  when  that  of  king 
William  failed  ;  and  it  is  certain  that  he  steered 
through  circumstances  of  the  greatest  embarrassment 
with  admirable  ability  and  prudence.  During  this 
war,  in  the  intervals  of  his  employment  with  the 
army,  Mr.  Hill  was  occasionally  sent  as  envoy  ex- 
traordinary to  the  princes  allied  with  William  against 


THE  GREAT  HILL.  19 

the  power  of  France,  and,  at  the  peace  of  Ryswick, 
was  despatched  in  the  same  capacity  to  the  court  of 
Turin,  and  on  his  return  home  was  made  a  lord  of 
the  treasury.  In  this  office  he  continued  till  the 
accession  of  queen  Anne,  when  Lord  Godolphin  ob- 
tained the  Treasurers  staff,  and  the  treasury  was 
taken  out  of  commission  ;  but  he  was  made  a  lord  of 
the  admiralty,  a  station  which  he  occupied  till  the 
Earl  of  Pembroke,  on  the  death  of  the  Prince  of  Den- 
mark, was  appointed  lord  high  admiral. 

When  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  who  had  joined  the 
cause  of  France,  having  been  both  neglected  and 
insulted  by  Louis  XIV.  began  to  repent  his  defection 
from  the  allies,  Mr.  Hill  was  chosen  to  take  advan- 
tage of  these  symptoms  of  regret,  and  was  sent  out 
as  minister  plenipotentiary,  and  envoy  extraordinary, 
to  all  the  states  of  Italy,  with  the  exception  of  that  of 
the  pope.  At  Turin  he  met  with  a  most  gracious 
reception,  and  concluded  in  October,  1703,  by  con- 
summate management  and  skill,  a  treaty  of  great 
importance,  which  he  always  regarded  as  the  highest 
achievement  of  his  political  life,  and  has  recorded  it  in 
an  epitaph  written  by  himself  for  his  tomb  at  Hodnet. 
He  received  another  nomination,  of  a  similar  kind, 
in  1710,  but  was  obliged  by  the  effects  of  a  painful 
disease  to  decline  the  journey. 

These  various  employments  enabled  Mr.  Hill  to 
amass  a  splendid  fortune.  His  upright  father,  sur- 
prised at  the  rapid  increase  of  his  wealth,  said,  "  My 
son  Dick  makes  money  very  fast ;  God  send  that  he 
gets  it  honestly."  This  apprehension  was  however 
groundless,  for  Speaker  Onslow  observes,  "  his  estate 
was  very  large,  all  acquired  by  himself,  but  without 
any  reproach  as  to  the  manner  of  it,  that  I  ever  heard 
of"  In  fact,  during  the  severe  scrutiny  that  took 
place,  at  the  commencement  of  the  reign  of  queen 
Anne,  into  the  conduct  of  the  public  men  of  the  last 
reign,  and  when  Mr.  Hill's  own  patron  Lord  Kane- 
lagh  was  punished  by  expulsion  for  wrong  conduct 


20  THE  GREAT  HILL. 

in  his  office,  not  even  a  whisper  of  cahimny  was 
hreathed  against  him.  He  was  considered  a  man  of 
virtue  ecjual  to  his  abihties,  beloved  by  all  parties, 
and  has  been  remarked  as  an  instance  of  the  real  wis- 
dom and  policy  of  strict  and  unbending  uprightness. 
In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  retired  to  Riciunond, 
where  he  attracted  most  of  the  eminent  persons  of 
his  day,  and  was  much  noticed  by  the  royal  family  ; 
the  more  so,  perhaps,  because,  though  a  tory,  he  was 
a  zealous  defender  of  the  Hanoverian  succession. 
He  was  strongly  urged  to  accept  a  bishopric,  which 
he  refused,  but  was  elected  fellow  of  Eton  ;  and  it  is 
said  that  he  wished  to  become  provost,  as  Sir  Henry 
Wotton  had  been  under  similar  circumstances,  but 
he  died,  without  attaining  this  object  of  his  desires, 
on  July  11,  1727.  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
seven.  He  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  Great  Hill, 
"  a  title,"  says  Mr.  Blakeway,  in  his  history  of  the 
sheriffs  of  Shropshire,  '•  to  which  he  is  justly  entitled, 
from  the  number  of  affluent  families  which  he 
founded." 

It  IS  to  this  celebrated  individual  that  the  family  of 
the  late  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  are  indebted  for  the  ba- 
ronetcy and  the  mansion  at  Hawkstone.  His  next 
brother,  John,  born  March  23d,  165.5,  settled  at  Wem, 
in  Shropshire  ;  and  for  his  son,  the  late  Sir  Rowland 
Hill,  he  procured  the  title  of  baronet,  and  built  the 
house  which  had  the  honour  to  be  the  birth  place  of 
the  venerable  individual,  whose  life,  devoted  to  the 
service  of  God,  and  the  interests  of  his  fellow-crea- 
tures, we  are  now  about  to  trace. 

The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  was  the  sixth  son  of  the 
last  mentioned  Sir  Rowland  Hill,  baronet,  of  Hawk- 
stone,  in  the  chapelry  of  Weston,  and  parish  of  Hod- 
net,  under  Red  Castle,  in  which  one  of  his  ancestors 
was  confined  for  his  adherencetothecauseof  Charlesl. 
He  is  generally  supposed  to  have  been  the  fourth  son, 
which  mistake  has  originated  from  its  not  being 
known  that  two  brothers,  born  before  him,  died  in 


THE  HAWKSTONE  FAMILY.  21 

infancy.  He  was  born  at  Hawkstone,  on  August  23d, 
1745.  His  mother,  Lady  Hill,  was  the  daughter  of 
Sir  Brian  Broughton,  of  Broughton,  baronet,  and  on 
her  death.  Sir  Rowland  Hill  married  Mary,  widow  of 
Thomas  Powis,  Esq.,  and  daughter  of  German  Pole, 
Esq.  of  Radbourn,  in  the  county  of  Derby,  by  whom 
he  had  no  issue.  Sir  Rowland  Hill  was  sheriff  of 
Shropshire  in  1732,  and  was  elected  member  of  par- 
hament  for  the  city  of  Lichfield,  in  1734  and  1740. 
The  name  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  eldest  brother  was 
Richard,  afterwards,  on  the  death  of  his  father.  Sir 
Richard  Hill,  baronet,  and  who  was  well  known  as 
the  author  of  Pietas  Oxoniensis,  published  on  the 
Oxford  expulsion  in  1768,  and  of  many  other  pamph- 
lets, particularly  those  connected  with  the  celebrated 
controversy  between  AVesley  and  the  Calvinists.  He 
was  also  returned  to  parliament  for  his  native  county 
at  six  successive  elections,  and  was  on  all  occasions 
the  zealous  advocate  of  the  cause  of  religion  and 
humanity,  which  he  defended  Avith  an  energy  that  no 
hostility  or  ridicule  in  the  slightest  degree  diminished, 
though  he  had  perpetually  to  encounter  both.  The 
next  in  succession  was  his  brother  John,  who,  at  the 
death  of  Sir  Richard  Hill,  became  possessed  of  the 
family  title  and  estates,  and  was  the  father  of  Lord 
Hill  and  his  gallant  brothers,  who  passed  through  the 
dangers  of  the  Peninsular  war,  survived  with  honour 
and  distinction,  though  not  without  wounds,  the  car- 
nage of  Waterloo,  and  whose  names  will  ever  be  con- 
spicuous in  the  annals  of  their  country's  military  glory. 
Sir  John  Hill  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children,  and 
while  five  of  them  escaped  the  daily  chances  and  perils 
of  war,  his  eldest  son  fell  a  victim  to  a  cold,  caught 
in  superintending  some  improvements  in  the  family 
estates,  most  sincerely  regretted  by  every  one  who 
enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance,  or  knew 
his  kind  and  excellent  disposition.  The  present  Sir 
Rowland  Hill,  baronet,  and  member  of  parliament 
for  Shropshire,  is  the  son  of  this  lamented  gentleman, 


22  THE  IIAWKSTONE  FAMILY. 

whose  death  occasioned  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  a  poig- 
nancy of  grief  which  it  required  all  the  powers  of  his 
habitual  resignation  to  the  divine  will  to  calm  and 
subdue.  It  was  the  distinguished  lot  of  Sir  John  Hill 
to  have  five  sons  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  and  it  was 
his  singular  happiness  in  his  old  age,  to  welcome  them 
all,  full  of  fame  and  honours,  in  the  mansion  of  his 
family ;  and  on  one  occasion  it  was  remaiked  that 
there  sat  on  the  same  side  of  his  table  the  Rowland 
Hills  of  three  generations — the  subject  of  these  me- 
moirs, Rowland  Lord  Hill,  and  the  present  baronet 
of  that  name.  The  delight  enjoyed  by  the  aged  father 
was  rendered,  if  possible,  even  more  exquisite,  by  the 
manner  in  which  he  was  received,  as  the  parent  of  such 
heroes,  by  his  late  Majesty  George  the  Fourth,  who 
welcomed  him  with  unusual  cordiality,  sayhig  with 
his  own  peculiar  grace,  "  I  am  extremely  happy  to  see 
the  father  of  so  many  brave  sons." 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  another  elder  brother,  Tho- 
mas, who  resided  at  Frees,  in  Shropshire,  and  a  young- 
er one,  Robert  of  the  Hough,  in  Cheshire,  who  was 
the  incumbent  of  preferment  in  the  gift  of  his  family : 
he  was  also  a  magistrate,  and  the  father  of  John  Hill, 
Esq.  attorney-general  of  Chester,  and  twelve  other 
children.  His  youngest  brother  was  the  Rev.  Brian 
Hill,  who  lived  at  Weston,  near  Hawkstone,  and  was 
long  the  intimate  friend  of  bishop  Heber.  Mr.  Brian 
Hill  was  a  man  of  very  refined  understanding,  and 
was  both  a  poet  and  a  scholar,  but  of  retired  habits. 
He  was  prevented,  by  conscientious  scruples,  from 
accepting  any  benefice  in  the  church,  to  whose  doc- 
trines and  liturgy  he  was,  nevertheless,  ardently  at- 
tached. He  was  the  author  of  a  religious  poem, 
called  Henry  and  Acasto,  and  of  Travels  through 
Sicily  and  Calabria.  He  was  educated  at  Queen's 
College,  Oxford,  and  was  chaplain  to  the  Earl  of 
Leven  and  Melville. 

There  were  two  sisters  in  this  remarkable  family  : 
Miss  Jane  Hill,  whose  pious  and  excellent  advice  to 


ROWLAND  HILL  IN  CHILDHOOD.  23 

her  brother  Rowland,  when  at  school  and  at  college, 
will  soon  be  noticed  in  this  work  ;  and  Mrs.  Tudway, 
the  lady  of  Clement  Tudway,  Esq.  member  of  par- 
liament for  Wells,  in  Somersetshire,  and  for  many 
years  the  father  of  the  house  of  commons.  Only  a 
few  years  ago,  there  were  living  at  the  same  time, 
five  of  these  individuals,  each  of  whose  ages  exceeded 
seventy  years ;  but  the  grave  has  now  closed  over 
them  all ;  and  the  last  that  survived  was  the  vener- 
able minister  of  Christ,  whose  history  engages  our 
attention. 

When  a  boy  in  the  midst  of  his  family,  litde  Row- 
land was  much  noticed  for  the  liveliness  of  his  man- 
ner, and  that  redundant  flow  of  spirits  which  never 
failed  him  in  his  latest  years.  Once,  when  yet  a 
child,  he  was  brought  into  the  room  to  his  father  and 
mother,  and  their  company,  when  somebody  said  to 
him  playfully — "  Well  Rowly,  and  what  should  you 
like  to  be  ?" — He  looked  archly  towards  his  father, 
who  was  sitting  in  an  arm-chair,  and  said,  "  I  should 
hke  to  be  a  baronet,  and  sit  in  a  great  chair" — an  an- 
swer altogether  the  reverse  of  his  untiring  activity  in 
after  life.  Nothing  ever  escaped  the  observation  of 
his  bright  and  penetrating  eye ;  persons  and  things 
were  equally  noticed  by  him,  and  his  original  and 
playflil  remarks  were  treasured  up  by  his  family  for 
many  years.  He  used,  to  the  latest  period  of  his  life, 
to  revert  with  the  liveliest  expressions  of  pleasure  to 
the  drolleries  of  his  childhood,  and  would  relate,  in 
his  own  inimitable  manner,  the  stories  his  mother  had 
told  him  of  his  "  pranks"  before  he  went  to  school. 
The  actions  of  his  earliest  days  were  all  indicative  of 
a  frank  and  open  mind,  and  of  a  character  perfectly 
transparent,  with  a  disposition  entirely  free  from  any 
thing  approaching  to  reserve  or  concealment ;  and  it 
was  the  exceeding  openness  of  his  heart,  joined  to 
numerous  qualities,  such  as  are  possessed  by  few  per- 
sons in  this  life,  that  rendered  him  so  cordially  be- 
loved and  confided  in  by  all  his  friends. 


34  Ills  CONVERSION  WHEN  A  BOY. 

Young  Rowland,  as  soon  as  he  was  considered  of 
sufficient  age  by  his  family,  was  sent  to  school  at 
Eton  ;  and  it  was  daring  the  days  of  his  boyhood  that 
the  first  beams  of  that  spiritual  light,  which  he  for 
so  many  years  reflected  in  all  its  purity  and  bright- 
ness, were  shed  upon  his  soul.  The  opening  flowers 
of  his  mind  were  consecrated  to  God ;  and  his  con- 
ceptions of  the  truths  of  religion,  at  this  early  age, 
were  so  luminous  and  distinct,  that  he  never  saw 
occasion  to  alter  his  first  views  in  any  essential  par- 
ticular ;  and  in  the  midst  of  all  the  varied  fancies  of 
enthusiasts,  which  often  surrounded  and  distressed 
him,  he  had  never,  he  said,  with  the  warmest  expres- 
sions of  thankfulness  to  God,  been  led  away  from 
the  simple  notions  of  the  doctrines  of  grace  he  had 
adopted  in  the  morning  of  his  days. 

His  brother  Richard,  who  was  considerably  older 
than  himself,  and  who  had  long  been  impressed  with 
the  most  serious  views  of  the  importance  of  religion, 
was  made  the  means  of  his  conversion.  He  first 
began  to  address  him,  both  by  reading  and  conver- 
sation, during  the  Christmas  holydays  of  1761,  with 
the  earnest  and  truly  fraternal  desire  of  winning  him 
to  Christ.  The  first  letter,  amongst  the  papers  of 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  manifesting  the  deep  anxiety  of 
his  brother  Richard  to  be  made  the  means  of  com- 
municating to  the  other  members  of  the  family  the 
light  which  had  been  enkindled  in  his  own  bosom,  is 
the  following,  addressed  to  him  and  his  brother 
Robert,  at  Eton. 

London,  llth  Feb.  1762. 
My  dear  brothers, 

Though  I  direct  this  to  Rowly,  yet  it  is  equally 
intended  for  one  as  well  as  the  other  of  you,  and  I 
hope  it  will  find  you  both  pressing  forward  towards 
the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  Christ  Jesus  that  is 
set  before  you. 

Letters  to  inquire  after  our  poor  perishing  bodies 


LETTER  OF  MR.  RICHARD  HILL.  25 

are  common  enough,  but  alas !  how  few  are  wrote 
with  a  single  view  of  promoting  the  salvation  of  our 
precious  immortal  souls,  even  by  those,  perhaps,  who 
have  a  great  deal  of  the  outward  form  of  religion,  but 
are  ignorant  of  the  life  and  power  of  it.  But  surely, 
whilst  we  have  the  Bible  in  our  hands,  we  can  never 
be  deluded  to  think  that  God  can  be  pleased  with 
the  externals  of  religion  whilst  our  hearts  are  far  from 
him.  No !  the  Scripture  assures  us  that  none  but 
those  who  have  seen  their  lost  state  by  nature,  and 
who  are  made  the  children  of  God  by  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ,  shall  ever  inherit  the  promises  :  and  oh  !  how 
dreadful  is  the  thought,  to  be  cast  out  for  ever  and 
ever  from  the  presence  of  God,  into  that  lake  which 
burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone,  where  their  worm 
dieth  not,  and  their  fire  is  not  quenched  ;  where  there 
is  weeping,  wailing,  and  gnashing  of  teeth.  Before 
I  was  of  your  age,  my  dear  brothers,  it  pleased  God 
to  show  me  the  necessity  of  caring  for  my  soul,  but 
like  too  many  in  that  season  of  life,  I  presumptuously 
depended  on  my  youth,  and  thonght  I  might  indulge 
myself  a  little  longer  in  pleasure,  and  that  I  should 
have  time  enough  to  turn  to  God  when  I  grew  older. 
But  now  I  am  well  convinced  of  the  folly  and  wick- 
edness of  such  deceitfiil  dealing  with  God,  for  if  he 
had  cut  me  off  in  that  state,  as  most  justly  he  might, 
I  must  have  been  nndone  for  ever.  Take  care,  there- 
fore, my  dear  brothers,  that  you  do  not  trifle  with 
God  in  a  matter  of  so  much  consequence,  and  suffer 
not  yourselves  to  be  led  away  by  the  bad  example  of 
your  schoolfellows ;  but  pray  earnestly  for  grace  to 
keep  you  amidst  all  the  snares  and  temptations  that 
continually  beset  you,  [and]  doubt  not  but  your  prayer, 
if  it  be  offered  in  sincerity,  shall  be  heard. 

I  have  nothing  more  to  add  at  present,  than,  with 
my  sincere  prayer  that  God  may  take  you  both  to  his 
protection,  and  enable  you  to  build  up  one  another  in 
the  faith  of  Christ,  and  that  he  may  bless  this  letter 
to  your  soul's  good,  and  make  us  all  brethren  in 
3 


26     RICHARD  hill's  EARLY  SENSE  OF  RELIGION. 

grace,  as  well  as  by  nature,  to  conclude,  my  dear 
brothers,        Yours  most  affectionately, 

RICHARD  HILL. 

Mr,  Richard  Hill,  who  was  made  the  instrument 
of  the  conversion  of  his  brother  Rowland,  became 
himself  relio-ious  at  an  early  age  ;  and,  as  he  has  left 
in  liis  own  hand  writing,  a  very  remarkable  narrative 
of  his  first  impressions  and  experience,  tlic  account 
of  these  workings  of  his  young  mind  cannot  be  deem- 
ed unworthy  of  being  here  alluded  to.  He  represents 
himself  as  having  felt,  when  only  between  eight  and 
nine  years  of  age,  on  repeating  the  catechism  one 
Sunday  evening,  such  a  drawing  up  of  his  heart  to 
heavenly  objects,  as  made  every  thing  else  appear 
insipid  and  contemptible.  This,  however,  was  but  a 
transient  impression,  which  vanished  as  soon  as  he 
withdrew  with  the  rest  of  his  schoolfellows.  He  re- 
mained about  two  years  longer  at  school,  in  Shrop- 
shire, where  he  felt  frequent  checks  of  conscience, 
and  was  often  much  alarmed  at  the  thoughts  of 
death  ;  after  which  he  was  removed  to  Westminster, 
still  pursued  by  his  early  convictions  which  he  tried 
in  vain  to  allay  "with  Felix's  opium,  at  a  more  con- 
venient season  I  vAU  hear  theeP  He  could  not  ex- 
tinguish the  hidden  fire  that  burned  within  his  soul ; 
and  arguing  with  himself,  that  as  he  was  not  too 
young  to  be  conscious  of  his  rebellion  against  God, 
so  his  age  could  not  be  so  tender,  but  that  if  he  died 
he  must  be  shut  out  from  his  presence,  he  seems  to 
have  remained  in  the  most  agonizing  suspense  be- 
tween his  natural  love  of  worldly  amusements,  and 
his  consciousness  of  the  necessity  of  a  life  of  religion. 
After  being  four  or  five  years  at  Westminster,  he  was 
confirmed,  and  made  many  resolutions  of  amendment 
on  that  occasion  ;  but  he  found  no  comfort,  no  satis- 
factory evidence  of  his  being  in  a  safe  condition. 
Soon  after  this,  he  fell  into  a  state  of  the  gloomiest 
skepticism :  clouds  overshadowed  him  in  his  way, 


MR.  RICHARD  HILL  S  DISTRESS  OF  MIND.  27 

which  was  nevertheless  occasionally  cheered  by 
beams  of  light  and  comfort  which  broke  through 
them.  Sometimes  he  doubted  every  thing ;  then  he 
was  fully  persuaded  of  all  the  truths  of  Christianity ; 
there  was  no  medium :  and  at  lensfth,  not  finding 
any  permanent  satisfaction,  he  endeavoured  for  a 
time,  by  following  eagerly  the  vain  pursuits  and  evil 
example  of  his  schoolfellows,  and  laying  aside  all 
inquiries,  to  divert  his  thoughts  into  another  channel. 
From  Westminster  he  went,  at  about  seventeen  or 
eighteen  yeai-s  of  age,  to  Magdalen  College,  Oxford, 
where  he  remained  four  or  five  years,  endeavouring, 
but  unable,  to  lull  his  awakened  conscience  into  sleep, 
and  even  murmuring  against  God,  because  he  would 
not  permit  him  to  sin  with  the  same  relentless  satis- 
faction he  thought  he  saw  in  his  companions.  From 
Oxford  he  went  abroad  for  two  years,  where,  to  use 
his  own  expression,  he  realized  the  truth  of  the  words 
of  Horace : 

CcElum  non  animum  mutEint  qui  trans  mare  currunt. 

He  was  followed  by  the  same  convictions,  perplexed 
by  the  same  doubts :  partially  convinced  by  his  former 
reasonings  with  himself — now  a  penitent — then  in- 
volved in  a  vortex  of  gayety  and  pleasure,  in  which 
his  conscience  would  suddenly  smite  him,  and  bring 
him  to  his  knees  in  prayer,  with  the  most  solemn 
resolutions  of  amendment.  In  this  state  of  mind  he 
returned  to  England  in  the  summer  of  1757. 

About  October,  in  this  year,  he  was  overwhelmed 
with  the  most  entire  conviction  of  his  danger  ;  he 
saw  the  awfalness  of  God  in  his  wrath  ;  he  no 
longer  doubted  of  the  existence  of  the  Eternal  Being, 
but  apprehended  that  he  was  the  unpardonable  vic- 
tim of  his  justice,  and  that  having  trifled  with  the 
workings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  should  find  no  place 
for  repentance,  thougli  like  Esau  he  sought  it  with 
tears.  This  so  affected  him,  that  a  change  in  his 
appearance  was  remarked  by  his  friends.     In  his 


38  RELIEF  OF  MR.  RICHARD  HILL'S  MIND. 

distress  he  went  to  a  clergyman  of  liis  acquaintance, 
from  whom  he  found  no  reUef ;  nor  could  he  extract 
from  any  source  a  healing  balm  for  his  wounded 
conscience,  nor  discover  a  physician  skilled  to  deal 
with  such  a  case  as  his. 

The  celebrated  Mr.  Fletcher,  of  Madeley,  at  that 
time  tutor  to  two  neighbouring  young  gentlemen,  his 
relations,  was  tlie  ])erson  to  whom  at  length  his 
attention  was  directed  ;  and  he  made  his  case  known 
to  him  in  a  letter,  without  mentioning  his  name,  re- 
questing in  urgent  terms  an  interview  that  very  night, 
at  an  inn  in  Shrewsbury.  Though  he  had  some 
miles  to  walk,  Mr.  Fletcher  came,  consoled  him  by 
advice,  engaged  with  him  in  prayer,  and  left  him 
in  a  state  of  comparative  ease  :  nor  was  this  the 
only  occasion  on  which  that  remarkable  man  was 
the  means  of  contributing  to  his  spiritual  comfort. 
A  few  years  after,  as  is  well  known,  Mr.  Richard 
Hill  thought  it  his  duty  to  oppose  the  Arminian 
doctrines  of  his  early  religious  guide  :  thus  the  sol- 
diers of  Christ  often  contend  about  the  weapons  of 
their  Avarfare,  instead  of  using  them  in  the  common 
cause  of  the  captain  of  their  salvation. 

In  1758,  Mr.  Richard  Hill  returned  to  Oxford,  to 
attend  the  Vinerian  Professor's  Lectures  on  common 
law,  not  so  much  with  a  view  to  profit  by  them,  as 
to  have  the  opportunity  of  a  retreat  in  his  rooms  in 
the  college.  On  the  occasion  of  a  sacrament  in  the 
chapel,  the  preparation  for  the  ordinance  was  so 
blessed  to  him  as  to  operate  to  the  great  relief  of  his 
mind,  which  was  now  overpowered  with  an  ecstatic 
joy  in  the  Redeemer.  Certain  books  which  he  read, 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  Romaine,  whose  ministry  he 
soon  after  attended  in  London,  and  intercourse  with 
religious  people  gave  him  great  comfort ;  but  he  soon 
discovered  that  real  religion  does  not  consist  in  a 
series  of  occasional  impulses,  and  a  succession  of 
"  frames  and  feelings,"  and  relapsed  in  some  degree 
into  his  former  doubts.     He  was  at  length  brought 


HIS  ANXIETY  FOR  HIS  BROTHER  ROWLAND.      29 

into  a  calm  and  peaceful  state  of  mind,  and  religion 
became  in  him  an  abiding  principle ;  though,  with 
every  other  Christian,  he  was  sensible  of  that  conflict 
between  the  flesh  and  spirit,  which  is  the  surest  evi- 
dence of  the  knowledge  of  our  own  hearts,  and  of  the 
work  of  grace  in  the  soul.  He  observes,  "  there  are 
but  two  things  the  Spirit  shows  to  the  elect,  sin  and 
Chj'ist.'^ 

Being  himself  thus  deeply  imbued  with  a  sense  of 
the  love  of  God  in  Christ,  and  of  the  value  and  im- 
portance of  religion,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  Mr. 
Richard  Hill  should  be  earnest  in  his  desire  to  be  the 
instrument  of  awakening  similar  feelings  in  the  minds 
of  the  members  of  his  own  family.  It  appears  also, 
from  some  memoranda  in  his  own  writing,  that  the 
servants  in  his  father's  establishment,  and  the  vil- 
lagers around  the  house,  were  the  constant  objects 
of  his  pious  solicitude  and  care.  His  eldest  sister  was 
happily  his  able  and  judicious  assistant  in  this  work  ; 
and  under  their  joint  care  and  advice,  the  seed  sown 
in  young  Rowland's  mind  sprung  up  and  grew  with 
a  rapid  increase.  He  seems  to  have  derived  much 
benefit  from  reading  the  works  of  Archbishop  Leigh- 
ton,  which  his  brother  Richard  sent  to  him  at  Eton, 
accompanied  by  a  letter  that  contained  an  allusion  to 
his  entering  the  ministr^^  and  concluded  with  this  ad- 
vice :  "Be  diligent  in  your  studies.  However  human 
learning  may  prove  a  snare  to  such  as  are  vainly 
pufled  up  in  their  fleshly  minds,  yet  in  a  gracious 
heart  it  is  very  desirable  ;  and  if  it  is  your  prayer  and 
endeavour  that  whatsoever  attainments  you  make  in 
profane  literature  may  be  subservient  to  the  nobler  end 
of  rendering  you  instrumental  to  the  good  of  souls,  and 
useful  to  the  church  of  Christ,  there  is  no  fear  of  your 
being  hurt  by  those  detestable  maxims  and  principles 
with  which  the  most  admired  classical  authors  abound^ 
but  rather  will  they  be  the  means  of  discovering  to  you 
the  blindness  and  depravity  of  human  nature,  and  the 
necessity  of  seeking  that  only  true  wisdom  that  cotncth 
3* 


30  Rowland's  progress  in  religion. 

from  ohove^  and  without  which  all  other  wisdom  will 
prove  in  the  end  only  refined  folly.  And  now,  with  my 
sincere  prayers  that  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  ever  to  call 
you  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  you  may  be  fitted  and 
prepared  by  his  grace  and  Holy  Spirit  for  that  most 
important  office,  and  by  your  steady  attachment  to 
our  most  excellent  church,  in  a  season  wherein  there 
is  so  dreadful  a  departure  from  the  doctrines  of  her 
Homilies,  Articles,  and  Common  Prayer,  may  prove 
yourself  a  faithful  labourer  in  the  vineyard  of  our 
blessed  Lord,  I  conclude  myself  your  most  affection- 
ate brother,  both  by  nature  and  grace,  Richard  Hill," 
This  letter  was  written  in  February,  1762  ;  and  there 
is  one  dated  the  following  month,  addressed  to  both 
his  brothers,  in  which  Mr.  Richard  Hill  expresses 
great  regret  at  not  being  able  to  pay  them  a  visit 
at  Eton,  but  anticipates  the  enjoyment  of  much  con- 
versation on  religious  subjects  at  Hawkstone  in  the 
following  summer  ;  and  he  sends  back  with  it  a  little 
treatise,  which  it  seems  they  had  conveyed  to  him, 
called  "  Heavenly  Paths." 

It  was  in  young  Rowland's  mnid,  however,  that 
grace  took  its  deepest  root,  and  whose  progress  in  di- 
vine knowledge  and  experience  seems  to  have  given 
his  pious  and  anxious  brother  the  most  unequivocal 
delight.  In  the  midst  of  the  carelessness  and  evil 
example  of  his  schoolfellows,  agitated  by  the  waver- 
ing of  his  brother  Robert's  mind  on  the  subjects  which 
most  interested  himself,  in  the  pursuit  of  the  attain- 
ments of  classical  literature,  and  surrounded  on  all 
hands  by  sneers  and  ridicule,  he  was  running,  while 
yet  a  boy,  his  race  of  glory  with  an  unequalled  ardour. 
To  his  schoolfellows  and  to  others  he  declared  what 
God  had  done  in  his  soul,  and  was  made  the  instru- 
ment, even  at  that  early  period,  of  the  conversion  of 
some  of  them — The  first-fruits  of  the  rich  harvest  of 
success  he  reaped  in  his  administrations  in  after  life. 

He  ever  carefully  preserved  a  letter  written  to  him, 
when  at  Cambridge,  by  a  youth  to  whom  he  had  been 


IS  MADE  USEFUL  AT  ETON.  31 

made  thus  useful  at  Eton,  and  who  pours  out  his  soul 
with  all  the  candid  simplicity  of  boyish  friendship, 
and  with  an  expression  of  deep  religious  feeling  which 
would  have  done  credit  to  a  riper  age.  The  decided 
course  of  this  young  Christian  had  involved  him  in 
severe  trials  ;  but  in  adversity,  whether  in  youth  or 
in  after  days,  religion  is  the  Christian's  a//,  and  then 
it  is  that  its  glory  appears. 

It  seems,  from  the  letter  of  Rowland's  young  friend, 
that  a  religious  society  had  been  formed  amongst  the 
converts  in  the  school,  but  that  after  his  departure,  the 
life  which  he  communicated  to  it  had  been  less  vig-o- 
rous :  they  were  now  on  the  eve  of  a  revival,,  and 
had  draAVTi  up  some  rules  and  directions  for  their  own 
guidance.  The  fifth  of  these  is  not  only  interesting 
as  the  production  of  these  pious  boys,  but  is  intrinsi- 
cally excellent.  "  Fifthly,  let  us  take  notice  of  the 
manner  in  which  our  time  is  spent,  and  of  the  strain 
which  runs  through  our  discourse.  How  often  the 
former  is  lost  in  triiles — how  often  the  latter  evapo- 
rates in  vanity !  Let  us  attend  to  the  principles  from 
which  our  actions  flow ;  whether  from  the  steady  ha- 
bitual love  of  God,  or  from  some  rambling  impulse, 
and  a  customary  propensity  to  please  ourselves  ?  How 
frequently  we  neglect  to  glorify  our  Creator,  to  edify 
our  fellow-creatures,  and  to  improve  ourselves  in 
knowledge  and  holiness  !  Let  us  observe  the  frame 
of  our  spirits  in  religious  duties — with  what  reluc- 
tance they  are  undertaken,  and  with  what  indevotion 
they  are  performed,  with  how  many  wanderings  of 
thoughts,  and  how  much  dulness  of  desire.  How 
often  in  the  common  alfairs  of  life  we  feel  the  inordi- 
nate sallies  of  passion,  the  workings  of  evil  concupi- 
scence, or  the  intrusion  of  foolish  imaginations.  Let 
us  be  careful  to  register  those  secret  faults,  which 
none  but  the  all-seeing  eye  discerns.  Often  review 
these  interesting  memoirs.  Let  us  frequently  con- 
template ourselves  in  this  faithful  mirror."  After 
adverting  to  these  rides,  his  young  fellow-christian 


32  CANDOUR  OF  HIS  BROTHER  RICHARD. 

expresses,  in  the  warmest  manner,  his  everlasting 
obligations  to  his  beloved  Rowland  for  the  pains  he 
had  taken  with  him,  and  earnestly  requests  an  inte- 
rest in  his  prayers.  These  were  the  first  dawnings 
of  his  opening  day  of  zealous  and  successful  labours 
in  the  cause  of  his  Redeemer. 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  liis  time  at  Eton,  Row- 
land was  surrounded  by  a  number  of  fellow-christians, 
old  and  young,  some  of  whom  had  cast  a  stumbling- 
block  before  him  by  their  inconsistencies.  His  bro- 
ther Richard,  in  a  very  long  letter,  dated  Sept.  30th, 
1763,  addresses  him  on  this  subject ;  and  assures  him 
that  "  even  they,  who  are  really  the  children  of  God 
by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  have  their  spots,  and  do  too 
often  act  greatly  below  the  high  dignity  unto  which 
they  are  called.  Beware,  therefore,"  he  continues, 
"that  you  be  not  encouraged  to  go  beyond  your 
christian  liberty  in  any  matter,  because  you  see  other 
Christians  do  so  ;  but  whilst  you  copy  their  graces,  be 
very  careful  not  to  be  led  aside  by  their  falls  and  in- 
firmities." Then  he  adds,  with  an  excellent  spirit  of 
frankness  and  candour,  '•  I  am  in  a  particular  manner 
bound  to  repeat  this  caution  to  you  with  regard  to  my- 
self, from  a  consciousness  that  my  example  before  you 
lias  not  been  such  as  becometh  the  gospel ;  but  be  as- 
sured that  this  reflection  aflbrds  me  constant  matter  of 
humiliation,  and  that  it  is  the  earnest  desire  of  my 
heart,  to  be  daily  more  and  more  conformed  to  tlie 
image  of  Christ,  and  more  and  more  meet  to  be  a  par- 
taker of  the  inheritance  among  the  saints  in  light." 

Favoured  as  Rowland  was  at  this  time  with  the 
advice  of  such  a  brother,  he  was  not  less  carefully 
watclicd  by  his  truly  pious  sister  .Tane  ;  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  letters  of  Sir  Richard  HilJ,  before  alluded 
to,  he  treasured  up  his  deeply  interesting  correspond- 
ence with  Miss  Hill,  while  at  school  and  at  college, 
to  the  end  of  his  life.  In  June,  1764,  she  writes  to 
announce  to  him  that  his  going  to  Cambridge  was  de- 
termined on,  and  that  Sir  Rowland  appeared  to  have 


ADVICE    OF  MISS  HILL.  33 

no  objections  to  his  entering  upon  the  sacred  office  of 
a  minister  of  God's  word.  She  tells  him,  "  you  are 
to  be  placed  for  the  first  year  under  Dr.  Brooke,  to 
whom  Sir  Rowland  has  presented  poor  IVIoses's  liv- 
ing, in  Norfolk,*  and  Mr.  Frampton,  who  will  con- 
tinue your  tutor.  The  Lord,  I  trust,  will  enable  you 
to  stand  against  all  the  fiery  darts  which  will  be  shot 
at  you  at  college.  Fat  bulls  of  Bashan  will  encom- 
pass you  on  every  side,  and  you  will  need  to  be  armed 
with  the  whole  armour  of  God."  This  letter,  after 
some  very  pious  remarks,  ends  thus — "  I  cannot  con- 
clude without  saying  how  glad  we  are  to  find,  by  Mr. 
Sleech's  letter  to  my  brother,  that  you  are  so  diligent 
in  your  studies :  continue  to  be  so,  my  dear  Rowly, 
and  if  possible  double  your  diligence,  that  you  may  be 
an  ornament  to  the  ministry,  which  is  the  prayer  of 
your  most  affectionate  sister,  J.  Hill."  In  all  her  cor- 
respondence with  him,  his  sister  strongly  urges  the 
necessity  of  diligence  in  his  studies  ;  and  she  tells 
him  that  "  human  learning  is  a  most  desirable  jewel 
in  order  to  set  off  the  lustre  of  those  in  a  sanctified 
heart." 

In  the  month  of  October,  1764,  after  a  previous 
visit  to  Hawkstone,  where  he  met  with  many  severe 
trials,  the  more  felt  as  he  had  not  the  consolation  of 
his  sister's  presence,  on  account  of  her  being  on  a 
visit  at  Lord  Dartmouth's,  he  entered  upon  his  im- 
portant career  at  Cambridge.  An  excellent  letter 
from  Miss  Hill,  lamenting  their  not  having  met  before 
his  journey  to  the  university,  consoles  him  under  the 
afflicting  opposition  he  had  suffered  at  home,  and 
exhorts  him  to  prepare  for  many  troubles  yet  to  come, 
and  to  "  cleave  only  the  more  closely  by  faith  to 
Jesus." 

It  was  the  design  of  Sir  Rowland,  in  sending  his 

♦  There  were  six  livings,  all  of  considerable  value,  at  that  time 
in  the  gift  of  the  Hill  family,  in  Norfolk,  with  this  restriction, 
that  they  could  only  be  presented  to  fellows  of  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge. 


34  MR.  ROWLAND  IllLL  AT  CAMBRIDGE. 

son  to  Cambrido^e,  that  he  should,  by  applying:  to  his 
studies,  obtain  a  fellowship  at  ISt.  John's,  and  thus 
become  qualified  for  presentation  to  one  of  the  family 
livings  in  Norfolk,  an  intention  in  which  young  Row- 
land acquiesced.  He  accordingly  entered  as  a  pen- 
sioner ;  but  subsequent  events  having  determined 
him  to  alter  his  views,  he  became  a  fellow  commoner, 
a  class  of  young  men,  not  eligible  to  fellowships  on 
account  of  their  supposed  rank  and  situation. 

Before  he  went  into  residence  at  Cambridge,  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill's  religious  sentiments  were  much  disap- 
proved of  by  his  family ;  but  happily  a  nobleman  of 
piety,  much  respected  at  Hawkstone,  defended  his 
views,  and  acted  as  a  check  to  his  opposers.  "When 
he  entered  the  university,  INIr.  Rowland  Hill  soon 
encountered  the  contempt  lie  had  expected  to  find 
there ;  and  frequently  has  he  said,  that  he  was, 
merely  on  the  account  of  his  religion,  such  a  marked 
and  hated  person,  that  nobody  in  the  college  ever  gave 
him  a  cordial  smile,  except  the  old  shoe-black  at  the 
gate,  who  had  the  love  of  Christ  in  his  heart.  The 
report  of  his  piety  and  zeal  soon  reached  the  ears  of 
the  well-known  Mr.  Berridge  of  Everton,  who  sought 
his  acquaintance  in  the  following  note. 

Grandchester,  Tuesday  Moj'ning, 

December  ISth,  1764. 
Sir, 

Mr.  Thomas  Palmer  was  at  my  house  last  week, 
and  desired  me  to  call  upon  you  when  I  went  to 
Cambridge.  I  am  now  at  Grandchester,  a  mile  from 
you,  where  I  preached  last  night  and  this  morning, 
and  where  I  shall  abide  till  three  in  the  afternoon 
— will  you  take  a  walk  over  7  The  weather  is  frosty, 
which  makes  it  pleasant  under  foot.  The  bearer  of 
this  is  Mr.  Matthews,  who  lives  at  Grandchester  mill, 
at  whose  house  I  am.  If  you  love  Jesus  Christ,  you 
will  not  be  surprised  at  this  freedom  taken  with  you 
by  a  stranger,  who  seeks  your  acquaintance  only  out 


HIS  FRECIUENT  VISITS  TO  EVERTON.  35 

of  his  love  to  Christ  and  his  people,     I  am,  for  his 
sake,  your  affectionate  servant, 

JOHN  BERRIDGE. 

Thus  to  his  threat  joy  and  comfort  began  his  inter- 
course with  Mr.  Berridge,  whose  ministry  he  regu- 
larly attended,  riding  every  Sunday  from  Cambridge 
to  his  church,  whence  he  hastened  back  in  time 
for  the  college  chapel ;  and  seldom  did  it  happen 
that  any  severity  of  weather  prevented  him  from 
spending  a  portion  of  his  Sunday  at  Everton.  He 
passed  the  Christmas  of  his  fu'st  year  at  college  with 
his  newly  acquired  friend  and  guide  at  Everton,  and 
there  met  with  many  persons,  not  perhaps  altogether 
the  most  judicious,  whose  views  of  religion  were  in 
unison  with  his  own.  Scarcely  a  week  elapsed  with- 
out intercourse  with  this  excellent,  but  eccentric  old 
clerg\aiian,  and  he  wrote  in  raptures  to  his  sister  of 
the  happy  enjoyment  he  felt  in  his  society  and  that  of 
the  fellow-christians  he  met  with  in  his  house.  She 
replied  to  him  in  these  terms  :  "  we  rejoice  much  at 
the  happy  Christmas  you  spent  with  Mr.  B.  as  well 
as  at  the  other  opportunities  you  have  of  conversing 
with  the  dear  children  of  God,  whose  experiences, 
discourse,  and  admonition,  I  trust  you  will  find 
abundantly  blessed  to  your  soul,  and  that  you  will 
not  fail  to  prosper  amongst  the  trees  of  righteousness, 
and  bring  forth  much  fruit  to  the  honour  and  glory 
of  that  God,  who  has  called  you  out  of  darkness  into 
his  marvellous  light,  and  made  you  to  know  and  ex- 
perience the  felicity  of  his  chosen — but  my  brother 
H.  and  myself  both  think  it  proper  to  give  you  a  cau- 
tion how  you  go  too  frequently  to  Mr.  B.,  for  should 
that  be  discovered,  I  need  not  tell  you  tiie  storm  it 
would  raise."' 

On  whatever  spot  the  two  brothers  Richard  and 
Rowland  appeared,  there  they  enkindled  the  flame 
and  shed  the  lustre  of  religion  ;  and  at  the  same  time 
their  pious  sister  cast  over  her  narrower  sphere  the 


36  BEGINS  PREACHING  AT  CAMBRIDGE. 

gentle  influence  of  a  life  dedicated  to  God,  to  which 
was  added  the  rare  appendage  of  a  most  humble  spirit. 
To  no  one  could  we  better  apply  the  words  of  Jeremy 
Taylor ;  "  like  a  fair  taper,  when  she  sliined  to  all 
the  room,  yet  round  about  her  o\vn  station  she  had 
cast  a  shadow  and  a  cloud,  and  she  shined  to  every 
body  but  herself."  While  Rowland  was  at  Cambridge 
confessing  Christ  and  despising  the  shame,  his  excel- 
lent brother  and  sister  were  engaged  in  the  arduous 
work  of  endeavouring  to  awaken  in  the  servants  of 
their  family,  and  amongst  their  neighbours,  a  sense 
of  religion ;  and  their  efforts  to  promote  this  all-im- 
portant object  formed  frequently  the  subject  of  their 
correspondence.  In  a  little  book,  preserved  amongst 
the  papers  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  there  are  frequent 
entries,  in  the  hand  writing  of  his  brother  Richard, 
of  the  happy  deaths  of  their  converts  and  friends. 
The  following  is  a  specimen  :  "  Feb.  6,  1766.  This 
day,  being  Thursday,  about  a  quarter  past  twelve  at 
noon,  my  dear  humble  faithful  servant  Giles  Archer 
sweetly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  His  disorder  was  a  fever 
which  lasted  exactly  three  weeks — The  Lord  enable 
me  to  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ."' 

It  is  time,  however,  to  return  to  the  scenes  in 
which  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  Avas  personally  engaged. 
His  whole  soul  was  bent  on  promoting  the  growth  of 
piety  in  himself  and  others,  and  he  was  made  instru- 
mental in  awakening  an  anxiety  about  eternal  con- 
cerns in  the  minds  of  some  few  of  his  fellow-students. 
Amongst  these  were  his  friends  Pentycross,  Simpson, 
Robinson,  and  others,  who  were  imbued  with  the 
same  spirit  of  zeal,  though  they  did  not  possess  his 
fire,  energy,  and  unflinching  boldness.  But  his  assid- 
uous eflbrts  were  not  confined  to  the  gownsmen  of 
the  university : — he  visited  the  jail,  and  the  sick, 
and  commenced  preaching  in  several  places  in  Cam- 
bridge, and  in  the  adjacent  viUages.  This  unusual 
proceeding  in  an  undergraduate  brought  down  on 
him  the  severest  censure  from  his  college,  and  insults 


MEETS  WITH  SERIOUS  OPPOSITION.  37 

from  the  populace  of  the  town ;  the  records  of  which 
still  remain  in  his  own  hand-writing,  in  a  sort  of 
irregidar  diary,  which  he  heads,  "  Parts  of  Scripture 
expounded  at  different  places,  what  time,  and  what 
success,"  It  begins  with  '•  Tuesday,  Nov.  26,  (1766) 
at  Chesterton,*  on  Matt.  vii.  14,  Enter  in  at  the  strait 
gate,  (fcc.  &c.;  there  was  much  disturbance,  but  much 
less  than  was  expected — some  enlargement."  A  num- 
ber of  texts,  with  the  names  of  places,  follow  this  entry, 
without  any  remarks  of  particular  interest :  he  men- 
tions, however,  in  one  case,  a  vast  concourse  of  people 
at  the  castle,  and  comfort  to  himself  in  preaching  to 
them.  At  length  the  opposition  to  the  young  preacher 
became  very  serious  and  decided ;  and  he  wrote  to 
consult  the  celebrated  Mr.  Whitefield.  The  advice 
he  gave  to  him  will  be  seen  in  his  answer. 

Londoji,  Dec.  27,  1766. 
About  thirty-four  years  ago,  the  master  of  Pem- 
broke college,  where  I  was  educated,  took  me  to  task 
for  visiting  the  sick  and  going  to  the  prisons — In  my 
haste  I  said,  "  Sir,  if  it  displeaseth  you  I  will  go  no 
more  ;"  my  heart  smote  me  immediately — I  repented 
and  went  again — he  heard  of  it — threatened — but  for 
fear  he  should  be  looked  upon  as  a  persecutor,  let  me 
alone — the  hearts  of  all  are  in  the  Redeemers  hands 
— I  would  not  have  you  give  way,  no  not  for  a  mo- 
ment— the  storm  is  too  great  to  hold  long — visiting 
the  sick  and  imprisoned,  and  instructing  the  ignorant, 
are  the  very  vitals  of  true  and  undefiled  religion.  If 
threatened,  denied  degree,  or  expelled  for  this,  it  will 
be  the  best  degree  you  can  take.  A  glorious  prepa- 
rative for,  and  a  blessed  presage  of,  future  usefulness. 
I  have  seen  the  dreadflil  consequences  of  giving  way 
and  looking  back.  How  many  by  this  wretched  cow- 
ardice and  fear  of  the  cross  have  been  turned  into 
pillars,  not  of  useful,  but  of  useless  salt !  Felix  quern 
facient  aliena  pericnla  cautiim.     Now  is  your  time 

♦  A  village  near  Cambridge. 
4 


;;«>iG89 


38  EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  DIARY. 

to  prove  the  strength  of  Jesus  yours.  If  opposition 
did  not  so  much  abound,  your  consolations  would  not 
so  abound.  Blind  as  he  is,  Satan  sees  some  great 
good  coming  on.  We  never  prospered  so  much  at 
Oxford,  as  when  we  were  hissed  at  and  reproached 
as  we  walked  along  the  street,  as  being  counted  the 
dung  and  off-scouring  of  all  things.  That  is  a  poor 
building  that  a  little  stinking  breath  of  Satan's  vas- 
sals can  throw  doAvn.  Your  house  I  trust  is  better 
founded — Is  it  not  built  upon  a  rock  1  Is  not  that 
rock  the  blessed  Jesus  ?  The  gates  of  hell,  therefore, 
shall  not  be  able  to  prevail  against  it.  Go  on,  there- 
fore, my  dear  man,  go  on  ;  old  Berridge,  I  believe, 
would  give  you  the  same  advice  ;  you  are  honoured 
in  sharing  his  reproach  and  name.  God  be  praised 
that  you  are  helped  to  bless  when  others  blaspheme. 
(Do  not  drop  the  Bible  and  old  books — you  write  good 
sense — nothing  is  wanting  but  to  write  it  in  a  proper 
manner.  Your  friend  Hallward  is  a  good  example 
to  copy  after.)  God  bless  and  direct  and  support  you 
— he  will,  he  will — good  Lady  Huntington  is  in 
town — she  will  rejoice  to  hear  that  you  are  under 
the  cross — you  will  not  want  her  prayers  or  the  poor 
prayers  of,  my  dear  young  honest  friend, 

Yours,  &c.  &c.  in  an  all-conquering  Jesus, 
To  Mr.  Ro\vland  Hill,  G.  W. 

at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge. 

This  advice,  though  scarcely  consistent  with  the 
submission  he  had  promised  as  an  undergraduate, 
but  so  much  in  unison  with  his  own  desires,  was 
quite  sufficient  to  determine  him  to  defy  all  resist- 
ance from  whatever  quarter  ;  and  soon  after  the  re- 
ceipt of  Mr.  Whitefield's  letter,  is  the  following  entry 
in  his  diary.  "  1767,  Jan.  1,  Thursday,  at  Chester- 
ton, on  John  i.  25,  26,  on  the  power  of  Christ's  re- 
surrection ;  we  had  the  honour  of  a  mob,  no  other 
harm  was  done  than  the  windows  broke."  "  Sunday, 
Jan.  4,  at  the  castle,  on  Genesis,  iii. — on  the  fall — 


EXTRACTS  FROM     HIS  DIARY.  39 

and  a  little  mobbing."  "  Thursday,  Jan.  8,  on  Psalm 
Ixii.  12.  Comfortable  time  at  Painter's,  on  the  life 
of  faith."'  He  preached  four  times  this  week,  which 
he  notices,  and  then  continues.  "  Sunday,  at  castle, 
Jan.  18,  on  1  Cor.  xv.  22,  on  death.  I  saw  this  day 
the  dead  corpse  of  Mary  Gilby,  when  I  came  to  visit 
her."  "  Wednesday,  Jan.  21,  at  castle,  on  Gen.  xxxii. 
26,  on  earnest  prayer,  I  loill  not  let  thee  go  except 
thou  bless  tneP  "  Thursday,  Jan.  22,  at  Grandches- 
ter,  on  Psalm  xxvi.  12,  on  Sion's  captivity.  I  had  a 
very  bad  walk  both  there  and  back  again.  My  body 
was  so  fatigued,  that  I  had  not  much  power  to  speak. 
Father,  thy  will  be  done."  Such  varied  remarks  as 
the  following  occur  in  his  hand-writing,  in  reference 
to  different  occasions  on  which  he  preached  and  ex- 
pomided — "  many  were  drunk  ;  I  was  confused" — 
"no  mobbing,  but  very  much  abused  in  my  way 
there" — "the  people  were  still,  and  a  tolerable  num- 
ber"— "  to  a  number  of  dissenters,  I  hope  the  Lord 
kept  me  from  trimming."  "  Thursday,  at  castle,  on 
1  Cor.  V.  10, '  We  must  all  ajrpear  before  the  judg- 
ment-seat of  Christ.''  Two  prisoners  were  condenm- 
ed  to  death  at  the  assizes  the  day  before  ;  the  Lord 
enabled  me  to  use  terror,  with  some  power  and  love" 
— the  people  were  inclined  to  mob,  but  were  over- 
awed by  the  word" — "  in  a  barn  for  the  first  time, 
with  much  comfort.  God  send,  if  I  am  to  live, 
this  may  not  be  my  last  barn — sweet  to  rejoice 
any  where,  though  in  a  barn."  "  Some  gownsmen 
were  there,  but  were  permitted  to  do  no  more  than 
gnash  with  their  teeth."  "  Sunday,  May  10,  (1767) 
1  Cor.  ix.  24,  '  So  run  that  ye  may  obtain.^  For 
Newmarket  races — many  people  there.  I  was  a  little 
confused,  but  I  heard  it  was  blessed — ^what  cannot 
God  do?" 

Not  only  were  all  the  energies  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill's  own  mind  at  this  period  directed  to  the  object 
of  preaching  Christ,  but  he  had  been  the  means  also 
of  communicating  to  sorne  of  his-fellow  students,  and 


40  HIS  PERSEVERANCE  IN  PREACHING. 

Others,  a  portion  of  his  ardent  zeal.  They  had  formed 
a  httle  society,  of  which  he  was  the  leader  ;  and  he 
urged  them  on  in  pursuit  of  the  one  end  they  had  in 
view,  through  every  possible  barrier  that  was  cast  be- 
fore them.  He  was  assailed  on  all  sides.  His  father 
and  mother  were  decidedly  opposed  to  his  career, 
and  his  superiors  in  the  university  condemned,  in 
the  strongest  terms,  his  infringements  of  discipline. 
Hints  of  a  refusal  of  testimonials,  and  even  degree, 
were  held  out  as  the  probable  result  of  his  irregu- 
larities, but  in  vain.  To  preach  Christ  he  was  re- 
solved ;  and  it  was  not  his  natural  disposition  to 
yield  to  any  intimidating  menaces,  nor  could  he 
see,  that,  by  his  present  departure  from  the  regula- 
tions of  the  university,  he  was  throwing  any  obstacle 
in  the  way  of  his  future  usefulness.  The  stigmas 
and  censures  cast  on  him  he  considered  as  honours 
of  the  highest  order ;  and  expulsion,  or  refusal  of 
any  university  privilege,  would  only  have  driven  him 
at  once  to  other  scenes  of  labour,  and  not  to  des- 
ponding silence  and  obscure  repose.  Besides  the  in- 
clination of  his  own  zealous  and  fervent  disposition, 
he  was  under  the  influence  of  a  master  spirit  of  no 
ordinary  mould ;  he  was  encouraged  in  his  course, 
whenever  difficulties  appeared  before  him,  by  the  stir- 
ring letters  of  Whitefield,  of  which  the  following  is 
an  example. 

Haverfordwest^  June  4,  1767. 
My  dear  professor, 

I  wish  you  joy  of  the  late  high  dignity  confer- 
red upon  you — higher  than  if  you  were  made  the 
greatest  professor  in  the  university  of  Cambridge. 
The  honourable  degrees  you  intend  giving  to  your 
promising  candidates,  I  trust  will  excite  an  holy  am- 
bition, and  an  holy  emulation — let  me  know  who  is 
first  honoured.*     As  I  have  been  admitted  to  the  de- 

*  By  preaching  in  any  of  the  various  places  which  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  visited  for  that  purpose. 


SECOND  LETTER  OF  MR.  WHITEPIELD.  41 

gree  of  doctor  for  near  these  thirty  years,  I  assure 
you  I  hke  my  field  preferment,  my  airy  pluraUties, 
exceeding  well.  For  these  three  weeks  last  past  I 
have  been  beating  up  for  fresh  recruits*  in  Glouces- 
tershire and  South  Wales.  Thousands  and  thousands 
attended,  and  good  Lady  Huntingdon  was  present 
at  one  of  our  reviews — her  ladyship's  aid-de-camp 
preached  in  Brecknock  street,  and  Captain  Scott,  that 
glorious  field  officer,  lately  fixed  up  his  standard  upon 
dear  Mr.  Fletcher's  horseblock,  at  Madeley.  Being 
invited  thither,  I  have  a  great  inclination  to  lift  up  the 
Redeemer's  ensign  next  week,  in  the  same  place — ^with 
what  success  you  and  your  dearly  beloved  candi- 
dates for  good  old  methodistical  contempt  shall  know 
hereafter.  God  willing,  I  intend  fighting  my  way 
up  to  town.  Soon  after  my  arrival  thither,  I  hope 
thousands  and  thousands  of  volleys  of  prayers,  ener- 
getic, efifectual,  fervent,  heaven-besieging,  heaven- 
opening,  heaven-taking  prayers,  shall  be  poured  forth 
for  you  all.  Oh,  my  dearly  beloved  and  longed  for 
in  the  Lord,  my  bowels  yearn  towards  you.  Fear 
not  to  go  without  the  camp — keep  open  the  corres- 
pondence between  the  two  universities.  Remember 
the  praying  legions — they  were  never  known  to  yield 
— God  bless  those  that  are  gone  to  their  respective 

*  Mr.  Whitefield,  however,  had  so  often  been  deceived  by  his 
"  recruits,"  that  he  had  become  very  cautious  as  to  receiving 
them ;  and  without  either  something  striking  in  their  replies  to 
his  questions,  or  in  their  appearance,  or  a  strong  recommendation, 
they  were  not  easily  received  by  him.  His  friend  Cornelius 
Winter  tells  us  that  he  dismissed  a  tailor  with,  "  go  to  rag  fair 
and  buy  old  clothes" — nor  did  he  readily  take  any  person  into  his 
confidence.  The  late  celebrated  Robert  Hall  was  often  obliged 
to  act  in  the  same  way,  and  once  said  to  a  shoemaker,  who  would 
fain  have  become  a  minister  by  his  influence,  and  urged  on  him 
as  an  argument,  that  he  ought  not  to  keep  his  talents  concealed  in 
a  napkin — "  the  smallest  pocket  handkerchief  you  have  will  do, 
Sir."     I  recollect  telling  this  story  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  who 

laughed  heartily,  and  replied,  "  I  remember  when 

came  to  me,  and  talked  about  not  hiding  his  talents,  I  could  not 
help  telling  him,  that  for  my  part,  I  thought  the  closer  he  hid 
them  the  better." 

4* 


42  CONTINUANCE  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  S  LABOURS. 

cures.  I  say  not  livings — a  term  of  too  modern 
date — Christ  is  our  life — Christ  is  the  Levite's  inhe- 
ritance, and  Christ  will  be  the  true  disinterested  Le- 
vite's  lot  and  portion  and  all.  Greet  your  dear  young 
companions  whom  I  saw — they  are  welcome  to  write 
when  they  please.  God  be  your  physician  under 
your  bodily  malady !  A  thorn — a  thorn — but  Christ's 
grace  will  be  sufficient  for  you.  To  his  tender,  never 
failing  mercy,  I  commit  you  as  being  for  his  great 
blessed  name's  sake,  my  dear  professor. 

Yours,  &-C.  &c.  G.  W. 

P.  S.  I  am  sorry  it  hath  so  turned  out  about  the 
letter — but  you  shall  have  it  when  I  reach  London. 

To  Mr.  Rowland  Hill, 

at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge. 

On  the  Sunday  after  this  letter  was  written,  he 
preached  at  the  castle  at  Cambridge,  but  describes 
himself  as  rather  confused,  a  feeling  which  probably 
arose  from  his  bodily  ailment.  On  the  Tuesday  fol- 
lowing he  spoke  at  Chesterton,  on  the  gospel  being 
revealed  to  babes,  "  with  some  power  and  to  many 
people,"  adding  this  prayer,  "  Lord  bless  it,  then  shall 
I  know  that  I  do  thy  will."  He  seems,  at  this  early 
period  of  his  ministerial  labours,  to  have  been  always 
much  cast  down  by  a  small  attendance,  a  discourage- 
ment he  seldom  experienced  either  then  or  in  his 
maturer  life,  but  which,  whenever  it  did  happen, 
seemed  to  deprive  him  of  all  energy.  He  remarks 
in  the  entry  immediately  following  the  one  last  quoted 
— "  a  poor  poor  congregation  :  Lord,  what  are  we 
come  to  ?  Lord,  help" — this  was  at  the  castle,  where 
he  preached  the  following  Sunday,  on  receiving  the 
adoption  of  sons,  to  "  many  people,  but  not  much  af- 
fected." This  appears  to  have  been  his  last  opportu- 
nity but  two  of  speaking  at  the  castle  ;  for,  after  men- 
tioning two  other  texts  on  which  he  had  preached 
there,  he  describes  the  door  to  the  prisoners  as  shut 
against  him. 


VISITED  BY  TWO  PIOUS  DANES.  43 

Just  at  this  time  he  received  a  visit  in  college  from 
two  pious  natives  of  Denmark,  who  had  been  with 
his  brother  Richard  at  Hawkstone,  and  who  brought 
a  letter  of  introduction  from  Mr.  Whitefield.  A  por- 
tion of  their  diary,  during  their  stay  in  England,  con- 
tains an  account  of  this  interview,  and  is  written  with 
great  piety  and  simplicity,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
following  interesting  extract.*  "  The  16th  of  June, 
(1767)  we  arrived  at  Cambridge — in  the  Crown  Inn, 
at  Mr.  Cowling.  The  17th  we  went  to  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  of  John's  college,  showing  our  letter  of  in- 
troduction from  Mr.  Whitefield.  We  spent  almost 
the  whole  day  with  him  in  his  edifying  company— he 
told  us  much  blessed  news  of  the  Idngdom  of  our 
dear  Saviour,  viz.  that  there  were  at  Cambridge  seven 
awakened  and  Jesus-loving  students,  one  little  girl 
from  ten,  one  boy  from  thirteen  years,  and  several 
married  and  unmarried  people.  His  bible  and  pray- 
er were  his  only  study,  &c.t— and,  after  our  friend 
having  prayed  very  fervently  with  us,  we  departed 
from  Cambridge  the  18th  of  June,  for  Newmarket. 
A-fterwards  we  came  again  the  25th  of  ditto,  to  Cam- 
bridge, where  we  spent  a  blissful  evening  with  our 
dear  Mr,  Hill.  The  26th  June  he  conducted  us  to 
a  pious  friend,  Mr.  Matthew,  at  Grandchester,  where 
we  met  with  the  revered  Mr.  Berridge,  at  Everton, 
and  in  the  evening  setted  off  for  Nottinarham.  The  3rd 
of  July  we  arrived  in  the  Angel  Inn,  at  Mr.  Kamp,  in 
Oxford,  and  to  our  joy  found  there  our  dear  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill,  from  Cambridge,  who  brought  us  to 
Mr.  Jones  of  Edmund  Hall,  where  we  met  with  nine 
pious  students,  amongst  whom  were 
Mr.  Hallward  of  Worcester 
Foster  of  Q,ueen's 
Pew  of  Hertford 

*  I  give  this  extract  exactly  as  it  is  found  in  the  paper  contain- 
ing it,  which  was  preserved  by  Rowland  Hill. 

t  As  will  be  soon  seen  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  did  not  neglect  his 
college  studies,  and  no  man  set  a  more  proper  estimate  on  the 
value  of  learning. 


44  LONG  VACATION  OF  1767. 

Mr.  Gulden  of  Magdalen 

Clark  of  St.  John's 
Kay  and  Grove  of  Edmund  Hall's  College,* 
Spending  the  following  day  with  these  dear  brethren, 
and  left  Oxford  the  5th  of  July." 

At  the  beginning  of  this  month,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
left  the  university  for  the  long  vacation,  and  was  on  his 
way  home,  when  he  met  these  pious  foreigners  at  Ox- 
ford ;  but  before  his  departure,  he  preached  with  re- 
ference to  his  intended  absence,  on  two  occasions,  to 
which  he  thus  alludes—"  Lord's  day  at  Painter's,  on 
last  chapter  of  2  Cor.,  TIlb  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christy  &c. — my  parting  sermon,  I  was  but  dead." 
"  Monday,  June  30,  at  Chesterton,  to  many  people, 
with  much  comfort,  on  John  vi.  68,  Lord,  whither 
shall  we  go.  thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal  life  7 
Many  tears — a  dismal  parting." 

When  he  wrote  these  last  words  his  mind  must 
have  been  deeply  affected  both  by  the  sympathies  of 
those  he  was  leaving  at  Cambridge,  as  well  as  by  the 
prospects  which  awaited  him  at  home,  which  was 
about  to  be  to  him  a  mingled  scene  of  cloud  and  sun- 
shine. The  latter  he  enjoyed  in  the  cordial  wel- 
come of  his  sister,  and  elder  brother,  who  had  lately 
become  a  village  preacher,  and  a  visiter  of  prisons  like 
himself;  but  the  displeasure  of  his  parents  cast  a 
gloom  over  his  soul ;  and  he  used  often  to  speak  of 
his  sorrowful  walks  amidst  the  beautiful  scenery  of 
his  father's  grounds,  and  of  the  frowns  which  pierced 
to  the  very  core  of  his  tender  and  affectionate  heart. 
But  he  was  encouraged  in  his  own  career,  and  con- 
gratulated on  his  brother's  activity,  by  his  "  much 
honoured  Mr.  Whitefield,"  who  addressed  him  in  his 
peculiar  and  energetic  style  of  expression. 

♦  Two  of  the  expelled  in  1768. 


THIRD  LETTER  OF  MR.  WHITEFIELD.  45 

London^  July  14,  1767. 

My  DEAR  PROFESSOR, 

What  said  our  Lord  to  Martha  ?  Did  I  not  say 
unto  thee,  if  thou  wouldst  beheve  thou  shouldst 
see  the  glory  of  God  ?  Blessed,  for  ever  blessed,  be 
the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for 
what  he  hath  done  for  your  dear  brother.  A  preach- 
ing, prison-preaching,  field-preaching,  Esq.  strikes 
more  than  all  black  gowns  and  lawn  sleeves  in  the 
world.  And,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  great  Shep- 
herd and  Bishop  of  souls  will  let  the  world,  and  his 
own  children  too,  know  that  he  will  not  be  prescribed 
to,  in  respect  to  men,  or  garbs,  or  places,  much  less 
will  he  be  confined  to  any  order,  or  set  of  men  under 
heaven.  I  wish  you  both  much,  very  much,  pros- 
perity. You  will  have  it,  you  will  have  it — this  is  the 
way,  walk  in  it.  Both  tabernacle  and  chapel  pulpits 
shall  be  open  to  a  captain  or  an  esquire  sent  of  God. 
The  good  news  from  Oxford  is  encouraging.  Say 
what  they  will,  preaching  should  be  one  part  of  the 
education  of  a  student  in  divinity —  Usus  iwomytos 
facit.  Dear  Pentycross  and  the  friends  you  intro- 
duced with  one  Mr.  Atkinson  were  with  me  three 
hours  on  Saturday  last.  I  hope  it  was  not  lost  time. 
Write  often,  and  let  me  know  how  you  go  on.  What 
says  your  friend,  dear  Mr.  Powis.  God  bless  him  and 
help  him  to  go  forwards — dear  Esq.  Hill — I  pray  for 
you  night  and  day.  Miss  Gode  is  gone  off  trium- 
phantly, and  also  another  of  Brighthelmstone  flock 
— Hallelujah — come.  Lord,  come. 

Ever  yours,  &c. 

G.  W. 

When  at  home,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  preached  wher- 
ever he  could  collect  a  congregation.  His  first  entry 
in  his  memoranda  written  at  the  time,  is — "Wednes- 
day, July  7 — beginning  at  Jerusalem — Lower  Heath, 
(a  part  of  his  father's  estate)  to  many  people.  I  had 
some  power  given  me,  but  I  thought  they  were  very 


46  FOURTH  LETTER  OP  MR.  WHITEFIELD. 

unaffected."  Again  ;  "Saturday,  at  Marchamly,  (a  vil- 
lage near  Hawkstone)  from  Matt,  xviii.  3,  Except  ye 
be  converted,  &c.  Much  straitened  on  account  of  bash- 
fulness  in  speaking  before  my  dear  brother."  During 
his  whole  visit  to  his  family,  he  never  lost  an  oppor- 
tunity of  proclaiming  his  Saviour,  but  deeply  lamented 
that  iie  could  so  seldom  find  one.  He  had,  however, 
the  joy  of  seeing  his  brother  Brian  added  to  those  of 
his  own  kindred  who  were  already  his  fellow-believ- 
ers in  Christ  Jesus,  on  which  he  was  congratulated  by 
Mr.  Whitefield  in  terms  too  characteristic  of  that  ex- 
traordinary man  not  to  be  inserted  here. 

London,  August  8, 1767. 
My  dear  professor, 

I  HAVE  been  sadly  hindered  from  answering  your 
last  letter  delivered  me  by  your  brother.  I  gave  it 
him  to  read,  and  we  had,  I  trust,  a  profitable  confer- 
ence. God  be  praised  if  another  of  your  brothers  is 
gained.  "What  grace  is  this  !  Four  or  five  out  of  one 
family — it  is  scarcely  to  be  paralleled.  Who  knows 
but  the  root  as  well  as  the  branches  may  be  taken  by 
and  by :  Abba,  Father,  all  things  are  possible  with 
thee.  Steadiness  and  perseverance  in  the  children, 
will  be  one  of  the  best  means,  under  God,  of  con- 
vincing the  parents.  Their  present  opposition  I  think 
cannot  last  very  long ;  if  it  does,  to  obey  God  rather 
than  man,  when  forbidden  to  do  what  is  undoubted 
duty,  is  the  invariable  rule.  Our  dear  Penty  is  under 
the  cross  at  Cambridge.     But,  crescit  sub  pondere — 

Satan  thwarts  and  men  object ; 
Yet  the  thing  they  thwart,  effect. 

I  should  be  glad  if  any  one's  exhibition*  was  taken 

*  A  college  friend,  to  whom  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  much  at- 
tached, having  been  the  means  of  his  conversion,  wrote  him 
word  that  he  had  been  threatened  in  this  way.  He  says,  "  the 
sum  of  their  determination  concerning  me  may  be  comprised 
in  these  few  words — that  I  immediately  return  to  college,  and 
that  unless  they  receive  a  letter  of  my  recanting  my  present  priu- 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  DEPRESSION.  47 

from  him  for  visiting  the  sick,  (fee.  It  would  vastly 
tend  to  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel ;  but  Satan  sees 
too  far,  I  imagine,  to  play  such  a  game  now.  Let  him 
do  his  work — he  is  only  a  mastiff  chained.  Continue 
to  inform  me  how  he  barks,  and  how  far  he  is  permitted 
to  go  in  your  parts ;  and  God's  people  shall  be  more  and 
more  stirred  up  to  pray  for  you  all,  by  my  dear  pro- 
fessor. 

Yours,  (fee.  (fee. 

In  our  all-conquering  Emmanuel. 
To  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  G.  W. 

at  Hawkstone,  Shropshire. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  acute  sensibility  to  the  opposi- 
tion of  his  parents,  and  the  hinderances  which  were 
cast  in  the  way  of  his  exertions,  seem  very  much  to 
have  weakened  the  spring  of  his  elastic  mind.  This 
is  evident  from  the  language  of  his  diary — "Saturday, 
Sept.  5,  (1767)  at  Marchamly,  on  Gal.  ii.  20,  21,  on 
living  by  faith  in  Christ.  The  three  last  times  I  have 
spoken,  I  have  found  but  little  comfort,  occasioned 
by  my  speaking  so  seldom.  God  forbid  that  the  lit- 
tle hair  on  my  head  may  not  all  be  shorn  off."  On 
almost  every  succeeding  occasion  too,  at  this  period, 
his  remark  is,  "  but  little  comfort."  On  Tuesday,  Oc- 
tober 12th,  just  before  his  return  to  Cambridge,  he 
thus  registers  his  farewell :  "  At  Marchamly,  Heb.  ii. 
30,  How  shall  we  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great  sal- 
vation. The  last  time — the  people  are  very  dead. 
Was  enabled  to  say  many  sharp  things  to  rouse  them. 
What  I  have  spoke  I  have  spoke  faithfully  through 
grace  assisting.  O  that  I  had  spoke  oftener.  Lord, 
put  thy  seal  to  thine  own  word,  and  pardon  what  was 

ciples,  which  they  (who  know  not  what  they  say,  nor  whereof 
they  affirm)  declare  are  contrary  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
church,  I  am  to  have  no  further  benefit  from  them,  and  my  ex- 
hibition of  thirty  pounds  per  year  to  be  withdrawn.  Oh  !  that  I 
had  thirty  thousand  to  give  up  for  Jesu's  sake."  He  adds,  "  I, 
have  been  with  Mr.  Roraaine  frequently  of  late,  blessed  be  God 
for  it." 


48  HE  VISITS  LADY  HUNTINGDON. 

mine."  On  the  twenty-first  of  the  same  month  h " 
took  his  departure  for  the  university, having  first  com- 
mended to  God  in  prayer  those  of  Avhom  he  was  now 
about  to  take  leave.  This  is  noticed  in  a  letter  of  his 
sister  to  her  friend  Lady  Glenorchy,  dated  Oct.  20, 
1767,  in  which  she  says — "  We  have  just  had  a  part- 
ing prayer  with  my  dear  brother  Rowland,  who  leaves 
us  to-morrow.  He  proposes  to  see  good  Lady  Hunt- 
ingdon in  his  way  to  Cambridge,  which  I  trust  will  be 
blessed  to  him,  and  that  he  mil  ever  stand  faithful  in 
the  cause  of  his  crucified  Master,  whether  he  be  ad- 
mitted as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  to  preach  in  his 
name,  or  not ;  but  alas  !  my  dear  friend,  to  such  a  de- 
plorable apostacy  is  the  world  come,  that  young  men 
who  are  steadfastly  attached  to  the  church,  and  live 
exemplary  lives,  can  hardly  get  their  testimonials 
signed  for  orders."  On  his  way  to  Cambridge,  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  preached  at  a  Mrs.  Layton's  of  Bath, 
Saturday,  Oct.  24th,  but  was,  as  he  says,  "  rather 
dashed  at  the  audience — Lord  for  boldness — a  little 
assistance  from  above."  This  he  repeated  with  "not 
much  comfort  or  perspicuity."  He  observes  "  I  do  not 
love  to  speak  to  fine  people."  He  preached,  however, 
in  Lady  Huntingdon's  chapel,  and  expounded  in  her 
house  "  with  much  comfort." 

The  instant  he  arrived  at  Cambridge,  he  began 
preaching  ;  and  he  thus  describes  his  first  meeting  of 
his  friends  and  followers  there — "the  people  were 
much  in  tears  at  seeing  me.  Lord  keep  them  and  me. 
A  little  comfort.  Always  find  more  comfort  in  speak- 
ing to  my  own  people  than  any  where  else."  His 
feelings,  during  this  term  at  college,  seem  to  have 
varied  exceedingly.  On  one  occasion,  a  Sunday,  he 
writes — "much  comfort  and  stirring — laudate  De- 
umP  On  another,  the  following  Wednesday — "  dis- 
tressed at  the  smallness  of  the  congregation,  so  that  I 
had  not  any  liberty.  Lord,  where  is  the  word  that 
w£is  sown  on  Sunday  eve  !  Cast  thy  bread  upon  the 
waters  and  thou  shalt  find  it  after  many  daysP    Of 


HIS    RETURN    TO   CAMBRIDGE.  49 

a  subsequent  sermon  he  says,  "  I  doubt  too  much  in 
my  own  spirit :"  and  he  closes  the  year  1767,  and 
commences  the  following  with  this  prayer,  "  Lord 
grant  us  a  deal  of  blessed  preaching  this  next  year." 
He  prayed  also,  in  a  truly  Christian  spirit,  for  grace 
to  act  with  forbearance  towards  the  gownsmen  who 
ridiculed  him  ;  and  remarks,  in  reference  to  the  pre- 
sence of  some  of  them  when  he  was  addressing  the 
people,  "  the  Lord  would  not  let  me  trim,  blessed  be 
his  name.'"' 

Not  only  was  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  actively  engaged 
at  this  time  with  the  flock  he  had  collected  at  Cam- 
bridge, but  he  kept  up  a  constant  correspondence 
with  those  undergraduates  and  others  at  Oxford,  who 
professed  sentiments  in  unison  with  his,  and  who  were 
employed  in  somewhat  similar  scenes  of  religious  ex- 
ercise. His  principal  correspondent  was  his  friend 
Mr.  Hallward,  of  Worcester  college,  who  informs  him 
of  the  great  stir  their  proceedings  were  making  in  the 
university,  and  of  the  outcry  raised  both  by  "  gown 
and  town."  Little,  however,  did  he  anticipate  that 
the  opposition  made  to  these  yomig  men  would  end, 
as  it  did,  on  March  11,  1768,  in  the  expulsion  of  six 
students  from  St.  Edmund's  Hall.  In  the  previous 
autumn,  Mr.  Hallward  informs  him  of  meetings  which 
took  place  in  the  house  of  a  Mrs.  Durbridge,  the  wi- 
dow of  a  humble,  but  eminently  pious  friend  of  Mr. 
Whitefield,  of  whose  triumphant  death  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  had  some  time  before  received  an  animating  ac- 
count from  the  pen  of  his  friend  Hallward,  who  re- 
ports him  to  have  said,  when  the  languor  of  disease 
prevented  his  holding  much  intercourse  with  those 
who  visited  him,  "  the  still  voice  of  Jesus  to  my  soul 
is  sweeter  than  any  other  conversation  whatever." 
It  was  in  this  house  that  their  assemblies  for  prayer 
and  exhortation  were  chiefly  carried  on,  till  at  length 
discovery  was  made  of  their  meetings,  from  which, 
when  known,  they  "  thought  it  cowardly  to  desist," 
though  they  heard  "  of  loss  of  character,  degrees,  or- 
5 


50      RELIGIOUS    MEETINGS    AT    OXFORD    IN    1768. 

ders,  and  even  expulsion  itself."  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
correspondent  assures  him,  that  they  were  unmoved 
by  these  things,  and  that  for  his  own  part,  he  was  liis 
pupil,  and  could  declare,  with  sincerity,  that  he  con- 
sidered it  "  a  happiness  and  privilege  to  be  counted 
worthy  to  suffer  reproach  for  Jesu's  sake  with  the  lit- 
tle flock"  in  Oxford,  where  he  says  in  another  letter, 
"  the  lion  has  roared,  though  I  think  he  has  had  but 
little  real  cause  hitherto.  God  grant  he  may  for  the 
future  have  more." 

At  length  the  storm  which  had  been  long  gather- 
ing, and  gave  a  few  warnings  of  its  future  violence, 
poured  the  full  torrent  of  its  vengeance  upon  six  stu- 
dents of  St.  Edmund's  Hall.  Their  names  were,  Ben- 
jamin Kay,  James  Matthews,  Thomas  Jones,  Thomas 
Grove,  Erasmus  Middleton,  Joseph  Shipman,  who  on 
the  complaint  of  Mr.  Higson  their  tutor,  and  contrary 
to  the  inclination  of  Dr.  Dixon,  the  principal  of  the 
college,  were  summoned  before  the  vice-chancellor 
and  his  assessors  for  preaching  and  expounding  doc- 
trines contrary  to  those  of  the  church  of  England,  and 
frequenting  illicit  conventicles.     The  result  of  this  in- 
quiry was,  as  has  been  before  stated,  their  expulsion 
— an  act  which  was  soon  followed  by  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  Dr.  Durell,  the  vice-chancellor,  from  Mr. 
Whitefield,  and  by  a  pamphlet  entitled  Pietas  Ox- 
oniensis  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  dedicated 
to  the  Earl  of  Lichfield,  then  chancellor  of  the  uni- 
versity of  Oxford.     This  pamphlet  was  answered  by 
Dr.  Nowell,  principal  of  St.  Mary's  Hall,  and  public 
orator,  who  gives  the  articles  of  accusation,  and  his 
own  notes  of  the  evidence,  and  maintains  that  Mr. 
Higson  deserved  the  thanks  given  him  by  the  vice- 
chancellor,  and  that  the  sentence  of  expulsion  was 
just.     On  the  thanks  to  Mr.  Higson,  Whitefield  re- 
marks, 

"  Pudet  haec  opprobria  nobis 
Et  dici  potuisse,  et  non  potuisse  refelli. 

Wliat  thanks,  reverend  Sir,  he  may  meet  with  from 


PROCEEDINGS    AGAINST    SIX    STUDENTS.  51 

the  whole  university  I  know  not ;  but  one  thing  I 
know,  namely,  that  he  will  receive  no  thanks  for  that 
day's  work  from  the  innumerable  company  of  angels, 
the  general  assembly  of  the  first-born  which  are  writ- 
ten in  heaven,  or  from  God  the  judge  of  all,  in  that 
day  when  Jesus  the  mediator  of  the  new  covenant 
shall  come  in  his  own  glory,  in  the  glory  of  the  Fa- 
ther, and  his  holy  angels,  and  gather  his  elect  from 
all  the  four  corners  of  the  world."  Mr.  Higson  it 
seems  was  subject  to  insanity,  and  had  been  under  re- 
strictions, and  therefore  when  he  went  to  Dr.  Dixon 
with  the  charge — "  that  there  were  several  enthusi- 
asts in  their  society  who  talked  of  regeneration,  in- 
spiration, and  drawing  nigh  unto  God,-'  he  treated 
it  as  the  effect  of  excitement  in  a  disordered  mind, 
especially  as  the  young  men  in  question  had  lived 
most  exemplary  lives,  and  had  conducted  themselves 
in  an  orderly  manner  in  the  college.  The  tutor, 
however,  dissatisfied  with  the  disposition  of  the  head 
of  the  college  towards  the  young  men,  applied  to  the 
vice-chancellor  as  visiter,  who  appointed  certain  as- 
sessors and  a  day  for  hearing  the  accusations  against 
them,  and  they  were  cited  to  this  court  by  a  notice 
on  the  door  of  the  hall  chapel.  It  appears  that  Dr. 
Dixon,  the  principal  of  the  hall,  defended  their  doc- 
trines from  the  articles  of  the  established  church,  and 
praised,  in  the  highest  terms,  the  exemplariness  of 
their  lives  ;  and  others  considered,  that  if  by  a  well 
meant  zeal  they  had  fallen  into  any  imprudencies, 
an  admonition  was  the  most  their  conduct  required. 
The  charges  against  them  were  certainly  a  most  sin- 
gular medley.  Some  of  them  were  accused  of  being 
of  low  origin,  others  of  being  ilUterate,  of  being 
reputed  methodists,  and  of  being  connected  with 
Messrs.  Venn,  Newton,  and  Fletcher,  clergymen  of 
the  same  principles  ;  and  it  was  insinuated  that  they 
only  came  to  Oxford  for  the  purpose  of  "  skulking 
into  orders."  Part  of  the  testimony  produced  on  the 
occasion,  was  a  letter  to  the  tutor,  by  a  gentleman, 


52  THEIR    ACCUSATION    AND    DEFENCE. 

assuring  him  that  Thomas  Jones  had  made  a  very- 
good  periwig  for  him  only  two  years  before,  when 
employed  in  the  trade  of  a  barber  ;  and  hence  it  was 
argued,  that  he  could  not  be  a  fit  person  to  continue, 
especially  after  his  irregularity  in  praying  and  ex- 
pounding the  scriptures,  in  a  seat  of  learning  like  Ox- 
ford. It  was  moreover  considered  a  happy  circum- 
stance that  the  views  of  the  methodistical  leaders  of 
the  day  of  "  filling  the  church  with  their  votaries  had, 
by  this  seasonable  interposition,  been  disappointed." 
These  last  words  are  those  of  Dr.  Nowell,  in  his  reply 
to  the  pamphlet  entitled  Pietas  O.Toniensis,s.nd  which 
was  soon  followed  by  an  answer  from  the  pen  of  its 
author,  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  called  "  Goliath  slain,  being 
a  reply  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nowell's  answer  to  Pietas 
Oxoniensis.  wherein  the  false  glosses  of  that  gentle- 
man's pamphlet  are  removed,  his  great  misrepresen- 
tation detected,  the  ancient  doctrines  of  the  reforma- 
tion and  of  the  church  of  England  defended,  and  the 
sentence  against  the  expelled  young  men  proved,  from 
his  own  words,  to  be  far  more  severe,  arbitrary,  and 
illegal,  than  it  hath  hitherto  been  represented."  The 
intimate  connexion  of  his  brother  Rowland  with  these 
zealous  young  men  was,  in  a  great  measure,  the  rea- 
son of  the  very  prominent  part  taken  by  Mr.  Richard 
Hill  in  this  controversy,  which  was  carried  on  for 
some  time  with  great  vehemence  in  various  letters,  in 
the  '■  Shaver's  sermon"  so  called,  and  in  the  newspa- 
pers of  the  day.  There  can  be  no  question  that  their 
preaching  and  expounding  while  in  statu  piipillai'i, 
was  an  infringement,  by  these  young  men,  of  the  letter 
of  the  university  statutes;  but  itwas  shrewdly  observed 
by  one  of  the  heads  of  houses  present  on  their  trial, 
"that  as  these  six  gentlemen  were  expelled  for  having 
too  much  religion,  it  would  be  very  proper  to  inquire 
into  the  conduct  of  some  who  had  too  little,"  and 
whose  pursuits,  if  visited  according  to  the  same  regu- 
lations, would  have  subjected  them  to  a  similar  in- 
fliction.    But  the  doctrines  they  promulgated  form- 


ROWLAND  HILL  CONTINUES   HIS  EXERTIONS.     53 

ed  the  chief  subject  of  their  judges'  displeasure ;  and 
the  zealous  clergymen,  Venn,  Newton,  Fletcher,  and 
others,  whom  they  followed,  were  at  that  time  accused 
of  holding  tenets  opposed  to  those  of  the  church  to 
which  they  belonged.  Time,  however,  has  done  jus- 
tice to  their  piety  and  merits,*  and  the  church  of  Eng- 
land is  daily  adding  to  the  number  of  her  zealous  and 
active  ministers,  men  who  consider  their  doctrines 
not  at  variance  with  her  liturgy  and  articles,  and  who, 
wdthout  any  infringement  of  her  rules,  are  preaching 
salvation  through  faith  alone  in  a  crucified  Redeemer, 
and  whose  works  are  an  answer  to  those  who  insinu- 
ate that  they  lay  no  stress  on  them  as  evidences  of 
their  belief 

The  subject  of  the  expulsion  of  these  young  men 
from  Oxford,  has  been  alluded  to  here  on  account  of 
the  very  intimate  connexion  which  subsisted  between 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  and  the  little  company  of  which 
they  were  a  part,  who  entered  into  his  views,  and  who 
followed  his  example  at  that  miiversity  ;  and  because 
of  the  perseverance  and  determination  with  which  the 
late  Sir  Richard  Hill  defended  their  principles.  As 
may  be  imagined,  this  event  deeply  affected  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill ;  and  although  his  Alma  Mater  proceeded 
not  to  such  lengths  of  severity,  he  was  not  without 
his  share  of  difficulties  and  opposition.  There  were 
also  those  of  the  same  religious  sentiments  as  his  own, 
who  considered  his  irregular  course  as  not  the  best 
preparative  for  his  degree  or  future  ministry.  He 
never  did,  however,  from  the  first  impulse  he  received, 
nor  would  his  nature  permit  it,  move  in  any  defined 
and  settled  orbit.  He  was  encouraged  in  his  pro- 
ceedings by  the  advice  of  many  of  his  friends,  who 
told  liim  they  were  "  glad  to  hear  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  grew  so  formidable  at  Cambridge  as  to  make 

*  Of  Fletcher,  Southey,  whom  nobody  will  suspect  of  lack  of 
affection  for  the  church,  says — "  No  age  or  country  has  ever'pro- 
duced  a  man  of  more  fervent  piety,  or  more  perfect  charity ;  na 
church  has  ever  possessed  a  more  apostolic  minister." 

5* 


54  HIS  SKILL  IN  ATHLETIC  EXERCISES. 

the  adversary  think  it  worth  while  to  oppose."  He 
had,  in  a  most  extraordinary  degree,  the  power  of 
attracting  and  retaining  the  regard  of  those  whose 
minds  were  at  all  disposed  to  religion ;  an  instance  of 
which  appears  in  the  following  extract  from  one 
of  their  letters  : — "  My  dear  Rowly,  may  the  Lord 
prosper  you  in  every  thing  you  undertake.  Although 
I  know  you  so  little  personally,  I  find  my  heart  more 
drawn  out  to  you  than  almost  to  any  one  I  know." 
It  is  evident  from  the  correspondence  of  his  early 
associates,  that  there  never  was  a  leader  more  zeal- 
ously followed  or  more  cordially  beloved  than  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  during  his  residence  at  Cambridge. 
Religion  never  could  be  accused  of  gloom  as  respect- 
ed him  at  any  period  of  his  life ;  and  when  at  school 
and  at  college,  he  was  exceeded  by  no  person,  but 
his  brother  Robert,  in  every  species  of  atliletic  exer- 
cise. He  was  an  exceedingly  bold  and  intrepid  rider, 
and  in  the  exercises  of  skating  and  swimming,  he 
has  probably  never  been  much  excelled  by  any  per- 
son. He  once  swam  from  Cambridge  to  Grandches- 
ter,  a  distance  of  two  miles,  against  the  stream ;  and 
it  is  not  many  years  ago  since  a  person  who  walked 
by  the  side  of  the  river  at  the  time,  reminded  him  of 
the  fact. 

During  the  year  1768  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  dili- 
gent in  his  studies  preparatory  to  his  degree  of  B.A., 
to  which  he  proceeded  a  twelvemonth  later  from  his 
first  going  to  college  than  is  usual,  having,  to  use 
the  technical  language  of  the  university,  degraded^ 
or  postponed,  his  examination  for  a  year.  His  tutor, 
Pearce,  of  St.  John's,  was  a  person  of  much  learning 
and  eminence,  having  been  in  the  year  1767  third 
wrangler  and  second  medalist.  He  was  afterwards 
public  orator,  master  of  Jesus  college,  master  of  the 
temple,  and  dean  of  Ely.  Mr.  Pearce  was  not  much 
older  than  his  pupil.  They  had  occasional  commu- 
nications in  after  life,  and  entertained  for  each  other 
a  sincere  mutual  esteem ;  and  it  is  this  connexiori 


TAKES  HIS  DEGREE  IN  1769.  55 

which  accounts  for  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  having  been 
frequently  permitted  to  preach  in  the  Temple  church, 
before  the  order  of  the  bishop  of  London  for  his  ex- 
clusion from  the  pulpits  in  his  diocess.  Considering 
the  activity  with  which  he  kept  up  his  communica- 
tions with  his  religious  friends  and  followers  at  Cam- 
bridge, and  in  its  neighbourhood,  it  is  extraordinary 
that  he  could  find  time  for  any  serious  application 
for  his  approaching  examination  ;  but  he  was  natu- 
rally fond  of  certain  subjects  of  mathematical  science, 
particularly  optics,  hydrostatics,  mechanics,  and  as- 
tronomy, of  the  principles  of  which  he  acquired,  with 
the  able  assistance  of  his  tutor,  a  fair  general  know- 
ledge, and  the  popular  parts  of  them  frequently  en- 
gaged his  attention,  and  seemed  greatly  to  interest 
him  during  his  whole  life.  He  was  by  no  means 
unmoved  by  the  charms  of  rational  enjoyments  ;  but 
the  object  to  which  his  whole  soul  was  attracted  was 
"  the  one  thing  needful,"  to  which  his  attention,  if  at 
any  time  diverted  from  it,  was  always  prepared  in 
an  instant  to  return. 

Li  January,  1769,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  proceeded  to 
his  degree  of  B.A.,  when  his  name  appeared  in  the 
list  of  honours,  an  unusual  thing  for  a  fellow  com- 
moner in  those  days,  though  latterly  the  members  of 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  families  in  the  king- 
dom have  passed  with  the  highest  success,  through  a 
course  of  study  requiring  no  common  industry  and 
talent,  and  of  the  extent  and  difficulties  of  which 
those  who  lived  in  the  last  century  had  not  the  re- 
motest idea. 

Before  he  took  his  degree,  several  of  his  college 
friends  had  been  ordained  and  had  settled  in  various 
cures,  and  maintained  with  him  a  regular  correspond- 
ence, in  which  they  informed  him  of  their  religious 
experience  and  ministerial  difficulties  and  successes. 
They  had  different  views  of  the  best  mode  of  effecting 
their  important  object :  some  disapproved  all  irregii- 
larity  ;  while  others  thought  it  essential  to  their  use- 


56        THE  DIFFERENT  VIEWS  OF  HIS    FRIENDS. 

fulness.  One  of  them,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill,  giving  an  account  of  his  labours  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  his  parish  where  the  duty  was  great, 
says — "  You  need  not,  I  think,  mention  any  thing  to 
Simpson  of  what  I  design  by  the  will  of  God  to  do 
in  the  ministry,  either  now  or  afterwards.  I  dare 
not  give  him  any  pain ;  and  though  we  think  dif- 
ferently about  the  methods  of  advancing  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  yet  I  am  sure  his  eye  is  more  single  than 
mine,  and  what  I  very  often  take  in  myself  to  be  a 
burning  zeal  is  nothing  but  constitution.  Mr.  Ber- 
ridge's  plan  I  wish  to  follow  the  most  of  any  method 
I  have  heard  of,  for  he  is  a  stated  minister,  and  is  ac- 
tually himself  at  the  head  of  what  he  calls  his  '  shops,' 
so  that  he  does  not  just  preach  and  never  see  their 
faces,  but  is  joined  in  society  with  them  all."  Mr. 
Berridge  had  great  influence  over  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
and  his  pious  associates  who  followed  the  example 
of  his  itinerancy  ;  and  whatever  differences  of  opin- 
ion may  exist  as  to  the  expediency  of  their  mode  of 
proceeding,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  they  were 
actuated  by  the  purest  and  most  truly  Christian  de- 
sire to  sow  as  widely  as  possible  the  seeds  of  eternal 
truth  in  the  uncultivated  soil  around  them.  When 
Mr.  Berridge  first  entered,  on  the  duties  of  his  minis- 
try, and  for  some  time  after  he  was  presented  to  the 
living  of  Everton  by  his  college,  he  was  prejudiced 
against  both  Wesley  and  Wliitefield  ;  but  his  senti- 
ments having  changed,  and  his  zeal  having  become 
the  topic  of  conversation  in  the  religious  circles  of 
the  day,  a  correspondence  commenced  between  them, 
which  was  speedily  succeeded  by  a  confirmed  inti- 
macy. He  afterwards  separated  from  Wesley,  when 
the  union  between  him  and  Wliitefield  was  dissolved. 
Mr.  Berridge's  first  interview  with  John  Wesley  took 
place  on  the  second  of  June,  1758,  and  on  the  twen- 
ty-second of  the  same  month  he  began  to  itinerate, 
preaching  in  farm  yards,  in  fields,  and  wherever  he 
could  collect  a  congregation.     The  counties  of  Carrv. 


JOHN  STITTLE.  57 

bridge,  Essex,  Hertford,  Bedford,  and  Huntingdon, 
were  the  principal  scenes  of  his  labours,  and  in  this 
circuit  he  preached,  upon  an  average,  from  ten  to 
twelve  sermons  a  week,  and  not  unfrequently  rode 
on  horseback  a  hundred  miles.  He  rented  houses 
and  barns,  maintained  lay  preachers,  and  travelled 
at  his  own  expense — charges  which  his  fortune,  in- 
herited from  his  father,  and  his  income  from  his  pre- 
ferment, enabled  him  to  bear.  Mr.  Hicks,  a  clergy- 
man in  his  neighbourhood,  who  had  been  converted 
by  a  sermon  he  heard  from  him,  was  his  chief  com- 
panion ;  and  it  has  been  computed,  that  the  result 
of  their  preaching  in  one  year,  was  the  awakening 
of  a  sense  of  religion  in  about  four  thousand  souls. 
The  most  violent  opposition  was  raised  against  him, 
which  seemed  only  to  stir  up  his  strength  and  en- 
kindle new  zeal  in  his  soul ;  nor  did  he  regard  all 
the  opprobrious  names  with  which  he  was  assailed 
by  his  enemies  for  more  than  twenty  years.  Thus 
in  the  early  culture  of  certain  portions  of  that  soil, 
which  is  now  under  a  more  orderly  tillage,  and  ex- 
hibits symptoms  of  an  abundant  harvest,  God  per- 
mitted the  seed  sown  by  the  first  spiritual  husband- 
men, to  be  irregularly  scattered  on  its  surface  ;  and 
it  could  only  be  a  sincere  desire  to  make  it  fruitful, 
that  stimulated  the  labours  of  these  undoubtedly 
pious  and  indefatigable  men. 

One  of  the  lay  preachers  countenanced  by  Mr. 
Berridge,  was  a  man  well  Imown  at  Cambridge  by 
the  familiar  appellation  of  Johny  Stittle,  an  eccentric, 
uneducated,  but  naturally  gifted  man,  perfectly  devoid 
of  the  fear  of  any  human  being,  and  of  a  spotless  pri- 
vate reputation.  Mr.  Berridge  thus  notices  him  in  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill :  "  John  Stittle  preached 
at  my  house  in  the  holydays  ;  he  is  a  wonderfiil  man 
indeed  ;  somewhat  lifted  up  at  the  present,  I  think  ; 
but  his  master  will  take  him  by  the  nose  by  and  by." 
During  the  whole  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  residence 
at  college,  he  was  in  constant  communication  with 


58  PERSEVERANCE  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

Mr.  Berridge,  and  his  friends,  who  urged  him  to  per- 
severe in  his  irregular  administrations.  He  had, 
whilst  an  undergraduate,  dihgently  taken  care  of 
what  he  called  "  his  little  flock  at  Cambridge  ;"  and 
his  labours  there,  as  well  as  in  numerous  other  places, 
had  involved  him  in  a  series  of  troubles  which  would 
have  damped  all  the  energies  of  a  less  zealous  and 
enterprising  spirit.  The  numbers,  however,  who 
were  awakened  to  an  interest  in  their  souls  by  his  ex- 
ertions, the  sincere  and  devoted  attachment  of  his 
friends,  the  great  work  of  grace  in  his  own  family, 
and  the  consciousness  of  sincerity,  were  his  consola- 
tions, and  prepared  him  to  pass  with  fortitude  through 
the  difficulties  which  lay  in  the  course  which  he  had 
determined  to  pursue ;  which  was,  to  hold  commu- 
nion "  with  men  of  all  sorts,  provided  they  were  of 
the  right  sort ;"  and  to  cast  the  gospel  net  whenever 
an  opportunity  presented  itself,  looking  to  the  church 
for  orders  and  a  standard  of  doctrine. 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  REFUSED  ORDERS.  59 


CHAPTER  II. 

MR.     ROWLAND     HILL     REFUSED    ORDERS     BY    SIX 
BISHOPS. 

When  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  proceeded  to  his  first 
degree,  he  was  more  than  twenty-three  years  of  age ; 
and  he  therefore  immediately  exerted  himself  to  the 
utmost  to  obtain  orders.  His  irregularities  while  at 
Cambridge,  and  his  disinclination  to  promise  to  con- 
fine himself  in  future  to  the  rules  of  the  church, 
caused  him  to  experience  the  mortification  of  refiisals 
of  ordination  from  no  less  than  six  bishops.  Still, 
such  was  the  impression  on  his  mind  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  preach  the  gospel,  that  he  could  hardly  be 
persuaded  to  retire  amongst  his  friends  for  a  short 
period  previous  to  each  successive  application  for 
admission  into  the  church.  The  world  around  him 
was  in  gross  darkness,  and  he  longed  to  impart  to  it 
a  few  rays  of  heavenly  light :  he  saw  sin  every  where 
powerful,  and  his  soul  was  stirred  up  to  combat  the 
enemy  of  man's  salvation.  Had  he  lived  in  these 
days  of  more  widely  extended  truth,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  waited  in  patience  and  in  prayer.  He  could 
not,  however,  endure  the  thought  of  leaving  his  fol- 
lowers at  Cambridge  ;  and  he  went  frequently  to  the 
university  for  the  purpose  of  continuing  his  adminis- 
trations among  them,  a  circumstance  which  threw  a 
serious  obstacle  in  the  way  of  his  being  episcopally 
ordained.  He  had  also  an  impression  on  his  mind 
that  his  hfe  would  be  very  short,  and  he  earnestly 
desired  to  spend  the  brief  existence  he  conceived  to 
be  allotted  to  him  here,  in  the  active  service  of  God. 
His  college  friends,  now  ordained  and  occupying  sta- 


CO  CONDOLENCE  OF  HIS  FRIENDS. 

tions  in  the  church,  sympathized  with  him  most  feel' 
ingly  on  his  disappointment.  One  of  them,  the  Rev, 
E.  Bnckley,  of  Kippax,  near  Ferrybridge,  Yorkshire, 
adds  to  his  expressions  of  condolence,  an  invitation 
to  his  house  in  the  following  urgent  terms : — "  My 
dear  friend,  I  had  the  favour  of  yours,  and  know  not 
whether  to  say  I  am  sorry  or  not  for  the  refusal  you 
have  lately  met  with,  since  I  doubt  not  it  is  the  will 
of  a  good  and  gracious  God  that  it  should  be  so.  It 
would  be  conferring  an  honour  and  pleasure  upon  me, 
if  you  would  make  my  house  your  home,  and  the 
sooner  you  come,  the  greater  will  be  the  obligation. 
Let  the  next  post  inform  me  that  you  are  on  your 
journey  northwards ;  perhaps  the  bishop  of  York,  who 
is  one  of  the  most  candid  men  in  the  world,  will  do 
for  you  what  the  bishop  of  Lichfield  has  refused ; 
we  probably  can  muster  up  some  friends  for  you  here, 
who  will  stir  and  interest  themselves  more  in  your 
behalf  than  any  of  your  own  relations."  Another 
of  them  writes — "  When  I  think  of  your  present  sit- 
uation from  your  late  disappointment,  forgive  me  if  I 
have  now  and  then  some  fears  of  your  zeal  becoming 
damped,  and  your  love  for  souls  waxing  cold.  Oh  ! 
that  my  fears  may  be  without  foundation.  Indeed, 
my  dear  Rowly,  we  had  need  be  praying  night  and 
day  that  the  Lord  would  be  pleased  to  make  us  the 
happy,  though  unworthy,  instruments  of  reviving  his 
work."  This  last  sentence  declares  the  great  object 
of  the  zeal  of  these  devoted  young  men  ;  and  what- 
ever differences  of  opinion  Christians  may  have  of 
their  mode  of  endeavouring  to  promote  a  revival  of  re- 
ligion, there  can  be  only  one  of  the  integrity  of  their 
intentions. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Whitefield  had  deprived  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  of  the  guide  by  whom  he  had  been  di- 
rected in  his  former  difficulties.  Mr.  Berridge.  now 
his  chief  adviser,  recommended  Mm  "  to  stand  still 
and  not  to  hurry."  "  When  the  cloud,"  he  says  in  a 
very  long  letter,' dated  Jan.  19, 1770,  "seems  to  move 


ADVICE  OF  MR.  BERRIDGE.  61 

towards  any  place,  prepare  to  follow  it,  but  pray  still 
to  be  kept  from  the  delusions  of  your  own  spirit,  and 
from  the  wrong  counsel  of  others."  '•  Be  not,'"  he 
adds,  "  anxious  about  orders  ;  they  will  come  as  soon 
as  wanted  ;  nor  be  anxious  about  any  thing  but  to 
know  the  Lord's  will,  and  to  do  the  Lord's  work. 
One  of  your  Master's  titles  is  Counsellor,  and  a  won- 
derful counsellor  he  is.  Therefore  ask  no  counsel, 
and  take  no  counsel  but  of  the  Lord ;  so  shall  you 
walk  more  evenly  than  if  you  had  the  whole  congre- 
gation of  gospel  divines  at  your  elbow  every  moment 
to  advise  you.  Your  late  successful  expedition  seems 
a  providential  prelude  for  a  field  preacher  next  sum- 
mer ;  and  if  Yorkshire  is  to  be  the  field  of  action, 
Wales  must  lay*  out  of  your  way." 

The  winter  of  1769-70,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  passed 
comfortably  in  his  father's  house  at  Hawkstone,  and 
if  the  bishop  of  Lichfield  would  have  ordained  him, 
he  might  have  had  a  title  for  orders  in  the  adjacent 
village  of  Weston  ;  but  the  preaching  expedition  al- 
luded to  by  Mr.  Berridge,  and  his  former  course,  de- 
cided the  bishop  to  refuse  his  application.  Hitherto 
his  brother  Richard  had  been  an  active  lay  preacher  ; 
but  he  was  prevailed  on  to  relinquish  that  work,  and 
seek  other  modes  of  usefulness  derivable  from  liis 
fortune  and  station.  Mr.  Richard  Hill's  giving  up 
preaching  was  a  great  grievance  to  Mr,  Berridge,  who 
thus  alludes  to  it  when  writing  in  his  quaint  and  pe- 
culiar style  to  his  brother  Rowland  :  "  As  Paul  was, 
so  be  thou  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake ;  yea,  the  very  scum 
and  ofi'-scouring  of  all  things.  I  believe  the  Lord 
Jesus,  who  has  a  peculiar  love  for  your  family,  in- 
tended this  honour  for  your  elder  brother,  but  through 
bad  advice  he  has  declined  it :  and  the  Lord  now 
seems  to  be  conferring  this  honour  upon  you,  which 
will  make  the  younger  brother  prove  at  length  the 
better  gentleman.     I  am  glad  you  find  a  peaceful 

*  Mr.  Berridge  had  a  whimsical  objection  to  the  word  lie,  ex- 
cept in  its  bad  sense. 
6 


62  SCRUPLES  OF  MR.  PENTYCROSS, 

refuge  for  the  present,  and  good  winter  quarters  at 
Hawkstone ;  but  if  the  Lord  makes  you  take  the 
field  in  the  spring,  and  gives  success,  you  may  expect 
friends  and  foes  will  fasten  on  you  like  leeches  ;  and 
needfully  fasten  to  draw  out  the  hot  and  bad  blood 
which  a  successful  expedition  will  occasion." 

In  all  his  deviations  from  the  course  prescribed  by 
the  church  of  England,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  continued 
unalterably  attached  to  her  articles  and  liturgy,  and 
w^^s  never,  like  some  of  his  early  friends,  troubled 
with  conscientious  scruples  as  to  subscribing  to  them. 
No  person  ever  exceeded  him  in  his  admiration  of 
the  spirituality  and  beauty  of  the  book  of  Common 
Prayer ;  he  used  also  to  spea,k  very  highly  of  the 
homilies  ;  he  once  remarked,  in  allusion  to  the  ob- 
jects of  the  Prayer  Book  and  Homily  Society,  that 
they  could  distribute  few  books  more  likely  to  be 
useful,  than  a  judicious  selection  from  those  "  good 
sound  old-fashioned  sermons."     It  was  impossible  not 
to  be  struck  with  his  devout  attention,  in  his  own 
chapel,  to  the  reading  of  the  prayers  ;  and  he  often 
expressed  the  strongest  disapprobation  of  the  apparent 
disregard  shown  to  them  by  those  who  came  in  after 
service  was  begun.     He  always  considered  the  want 
of  a  vivid  perception  of  the  excellence  of  the  liturgy 
as  an  evidence  of  a  lack  of  spirituality ;  and  in  con- 
versation would  frequently  repeat  parts  of  it  with 
great  energy,  and  say,  '•  well  done  the  good  old 
reformers  ;  what  'fine  scriptural  ideas  they  had ;  if 
they  were  alive  now,  I  would  try  to  get  them  into 
Surry  chapel  pulpit." 

This  was  not  the  case  with  his  friend  Pentycross; 
he  had  many  scruples  about  the  book  of  Common 
Prayer,  which  Mr.  Berridge  endeavoured  to  remove. 
He  notices  it  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  in  which 
he  says — "  Poor  Penty,  I  fear,  will  not  take  a  degree. 
or  not  take  it  honestly.  He  came  to  my  house  about 
three  weeks  ago,  and  brought  two  pockets  full  of 
doubts  and  scruples  relating  to  the  articles  and  litur- 


MR.  BERRIDGE  AND  HIS  FOLLOWERS.  63 

gy.  I  would  fain  have  had  the  scruples  left  at  Ever- 
ton,  but  he  took  them  all  back  with  him  to  college, 
and  seemed  determined  not  to  part  with  them.  How- 
ever, from  the  precipitate  step  he  formerly  took  in 
signing  a  college  paper,  I  apprehend  it  possible  he 
may  take  a  flying  leap  into  a  degree  still.  There  is 
something  very  amiable  in  dear  Penty.  I  believe 
the  Lord  loves  him,  and  designs  him  for  great  things. 
Perhaps  he  may  be  intended  for  a  spiritual  comet,  a 
field  preacher  like  yourself:  this  seems  to  be  his  great 
aim  and  ambition.  If  he  cannot  subscribe  to  the 
church  articles,  he  does  not  mean  to  settle  among  the 
dissenters  ;  he  wants  to  raise  a  flock  of  his  own,  and 
I  hope  the  Lord  will  give  him  one.  When  he  left  me 
he  talked  of  going  to  the  Welsh  college.*  May  the 
Lord  direct  him." 

If  ever  there  existed  a  set  of  Christians  who  dif- 
fered without  dissension,  it  was  that  to  which  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  belonged  at  Cambridge.  Their  leader, 
Mr.  Berridge,  spent  his  ample  fortune  in  the  service 
of  religion,  and  in  the  employment  of  persons  as 
preachers,  into  the  essentials  of  whose  characters  and 
opinions  he  alone  inquired.  His  resources  were  so 
exhausted  in  his  old  age,  that  his  friend  Mr.  Roraaine 
is  found  begging  on  his  behalf,  "  for  the  support  of 
two  preachers  and  their  horses,  and  several  local 
preachers,  and  for  the  rents  of  several  barns  in  which 
they  preach."  Into  whatever  streams  the  current  of 
his  life  diverged,  they  were  all  tributary  to  the  cause 
of  his  Redeemer. 

In  the  spring  of  1770  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  active 
spirit  brought  him  out  into  exertion  from  the  retire- 
ment of  his  father's  house.  This  involved  him  in 
trials  and  difficulties  such  as  he  had  not  before  expe- 
rienced. Besides  his  father's  displeasure,  and  his 
disappointments  in  his  endeavours  to  obtain  orders, 
he  met  with  violent  opposition  on  many  occasions, 
and  was  often  pelted  and  abused  by  the  assemblies 
*  Lady  Huntingdon's,  at  Trevecca. 


64  MR.  HILL  COMMENDED  BY  J.  WESLEY. 

he  addressed.  He  was  extremely  desirous  of  accom- 
panying his  sister  into  Scotland,  to  visit  liady  Glen- 
orchy,  l3Ut  was  unable  to  accomplish  the  journey,  and 
he  afterwards  acknowledged  that  it  was  a  providen- 
tial, though  a  severe  disappointment.  Going  to 
Edinburgh,  lie  took  up  his  abode  in  the  house  of  his 
friend  Mr.  Buckley,  and  while  there  he  received  a 
long  letter  of  advice  and  comfort  from  Mr.  Berridge, 
who  says  — "  I  look  upon  your  present  trials  as  a 
happy  omen  of  future  service  ;  and  if  you  continue 
waiting  and  praying,  a  door  will  open  by  and  by. 
Be  not  solicitous  about  orders  ;  as  soon  as  they  are 
wanted  tliey  will  drop  into  your  lap.  I  would  ob- 
serve concerning  your  present  situation,  it  may  pos 
sibly  grow  more  dark  before  it  clears  up.  The  dark- 
est moment  in  the  whole  nucthcmeron  is  just  before 
break  of  day."  He  then  adds, — "  give  my  dear  love 
to  Mr.  Buckley  ;  he  must  be  an  honest  and  bold  man 
for  Jesus  if  he  can  welcome  you.  What  a  mercy  it 
is  there  are  some  left  who  are  not  afraid  of  the  cross, 
nor  ashamed  to  receive  a  stigmatized  pilgrim." 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  generally  resided  at  Hawkstone 
in  the  winter,  but  visited,  in  his  preaching  expedi- 
tions at  other  seasons  of  the  year,  an  immense  num- 
ber of  places ;  and  though  he  suffered  greatly  from 
innumerable  trials,  and  every  species  of  opposition,  he 
had  the  consolation  of  abundant  success.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  1770,  while  with  Mr.  Buckley,  he  w^s  the  in- 
strument of  many  conversions  in  Yorkshire,  particu- 
larly at  Leeds.  Of  this  he  was  apprized  in  a  letter 
from  a  Mr.  Iveson  of  that  place,  who  says,  "  indeed, 
dear  Sir,  many  souls  here  remember  with  joy  and  gra- 
titude the  happy  times  they  enjoyed  under  your  min- 
istry." The  same  person  adds,  "  Mr.  J.  Wesley  in  a 
letter  to  Miss  Hirrold  expresses  his  approbation  of 
your  preaching  amongst  his  people.  From  this  I 
suppose  you  will  be  cordially  received  by  all  his 
preachers,  as  they  are  informed  of  his  good  will  to- 
wards you."      He  also  assures  him  that  the  Wes- 


HIS  FIRST  VISITS  TO  BRISTOL — HIS  DISTRESS.    65 

leyans.  at  Leeds,  regarded  him  with  the  sincerest  af- 
fection, and  were  much  attached  to  his  preaching. 

Li  the  spring  of  1771,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  commen- 
ced preaching  at  Bristol,  and  in  the  neighbourhood. 
He  was  introduced  to  the  Tabernacle  congregation 
there  by  Mr.  Cornelius  Winter,  who  bears  testimony 
to  the  usefulness  of  his  sermons,  and  considers  ha- 
ving made  his  acquaintance  as  one  of  the  greatest 
mercies  of  his  life.  "  From  the  sabbath,"  he  says,  "  on 
which  I  had  the  pleasure  to  introduce  him  into  the 
Tabernacle  pulpit,  has  religion  been  reviving  through 
his  instrumentality,  and  the  flame  has  burned  strong 
ever  since.  Other  instruments  may  have  helped,  but 
it  began  with  him."  He  was  at  this  time  under  the 
frowns  of  his  family,  disappointed  of  admission  into 
the  church,  and  distressed  for  money. 

Sir  Rowland  Hill  restricted  his  allowance  to  a  very 
small  sum,  both  in  token  of  his  displeasure  at  his  itin- 
erant life,  and  to  prevent  it.  But  he  was  determined 
to  go  forth  though  '•  without  purse  or  scrip,"'  and  to 
pursue,  in  defiance  of  every  human  restraint,  the 
course  he  conceived  providence  had  marked  out  for 
him.  Many  of  his  most  arduous  journeys  were  made 
upon  a  little  Welsh  pony  given  him  by  a  clergyman, 
and  he  often  left  the  scene  of  an  evening  sermon  the 
next  morning,  without  knowing  where  he  should  find 
at  night  a  resting  place  for  himself  and  the  faithful 
animal  which  carried  him.  He  seldom  however  fail- 
ed to  meet  with  a  kind  reception  from  some  person 
who  loved  him  for  his  work's  sake,  though  he  was 
often  reduced  to  great  difficulties.  On  one  evening 
in  particular,  as  he  used  frequently  to  describe,  when 
he  landed  on  his  return  to  Bristol,  and  had  paid  the 
passage  across  the  Severn  for  himself  and  his  pony, 
he  had  not  sufficient  left  in  his  purse  to  procure  a 
night's  lodging,  and  went  on,  he  knew  not  whither, 
hungry  and  exhausted.  But  he  was  not  deserted, 
and  before  night  he  found  shelter  and  refreshment,  as 
well  as  the  means  of  proceeding  on  his  journey.  Im- 
6* 


66  HIS  FIRST  SERMON  AT  DEVIZES. 

pelled  by  the  irresistible  conviction  that  he  was  fol- 
lowing the  commands  of  God,  he  pursued  his  one 
great  object  undaunted  by  every  earthly  obstacle. 
No  one  could  feel  more  acutely  the  displeasure  of  his 
parents,  over  which  he  often  wept  in  the  silent  ago- 
ny of  his  heart,  nor  did  he  ever  once  refuse  compU- 
ance  with  their  wishes  but  for  the  gospel's  sake.  He 
might  have  reposed  amidst  their  smiles,  in  the  lap  of 
affluence,  ease,  and  plenty  ;  but  he  gave  up  every 
thing  in  the  sincerest  devotion  to  God,  and  received, 
as  will  be  hereafter  seen,  the  fulness  of  the  promise 
even  in  this  life  to  such  as  have  willingly  left  all  for 
the  cause  of  the  Redeemer. 

In  the  year  1771,  many  parts  of  Gloucestershire, 
Somersetshire,  and  Wiltshire,  were  visited  by  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill.  He  has  himself  recorded  in  his  diary 
many  of  the  texts  from  which  he  preached,  and  the 
effect  of  his  sermons.  He  there  describes  the  diffi- 
culties he  had  to  contend  against,  and  the  success 
which  followed  his  efforts  to  spread  a  knowledge  of 
the  truth.  Extracts  from  this  journal  will  convey 
the  truest  idea  of  the  state  of  his  mind  and  the  results 
of  his  ministry. 

"  May  .5,  1771,  morning  at  Chippenham,  Mark  vi. 
47 — a  very  dead  time.  Evening  at  the  Devizes.  The 
first  gospel  sermon*  that  ever  was  preached  there,  on 
Isa.  i.  2,  3.  Hear,  O  /leavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth, 
I  have  novrished  and  hrought  up,  4*c.  cj'c.  Supposed 
to  be  many  thousands.  A  little  disturbance,  though 
we  trust  a  great  blessing.  Man^^  thanked  me  for  my 
sermon  and  besought  me  to  return.  Before  I  began 
preaching  my  heart  was  low,  but  afterwards  was 
abundantly  comforted  at  the  goodness  of  the  Lord. 
A  spirit  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  was  upon  all  the 
people,  and  all  agreed  that  the  town  was  taken.  Hal- 
lelujah." 

In  the  midst  of  these  labours  he  receiA'ed  the  fol- 

*  He  must  have  meant  the  first  in  the  recollection  of  persons 
then  living. 


LETTER  OF    MR.  BERRIDGE.  67 

lowing  letter  of  encouragement  from  the  veteran  in 
the  same  cause  at  Everton. 

Everton,  May  8,  1771. 
Dear  Rowly. 

Mv  heart  sends  you  some  of  its  kindest  love,  and 
breathes  its  tenderest  wishes  for  you.  I  feel  my 
heart  go  out  to  you  whilst  I  am  writing,  and  can  em- 
brace you  as  my  second  self.  How  soft  and  sweet  are 
those  silken  cords  which  the  dear  Redeemer  twines 
and  ties  about  the  hearts  of  his  children  !  How  dif- 
ferent from  mere  natural  affection,  and  much  more 
from  vicious  self-love.  Surely  it  is  a  pleasant  thing 
to  love  Avith  a  pure  heart  fervently,  and  something  of 
this  love  I  feel  for  you,  which  brings  a  melting  tear 
into  my  eye,  and  refreshes  my  veiy  body  as  I  \vr\t(i. 
Grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  be  with  you.  May  heavenly 
tmth  beam  into  your  soul,  and  heavenly  love  inflame 
your  heart.  I  suppose  you  are  now  arrived  in  the 
West,  and  are  working  as  a  labourer  in  your  master's 
vineyard.  Be  faithflil  and  diligent,  and  look  up  to 
your  master  continually  for  direction  and  assistance. 
Remember  his  gracious  promise,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you 
always,  even  to  the  end  of  the  world."  He  will  sup- 
ply you  with  wisdom,*  strength,  and  courage  :  for  he 
sends  none  upon  a  warfare  at  their  own  cost.  I  think 
your  chief  work  for  a  season  will  be  to  break  up  fal- 
low ground.  This  suits  the  accent  of  your  voice  at 
present.  God  will  give  you  other  tongues  when  they 
are  wanted  ;  but  now  he  sends  you  out  to  thrash  tlie 
mountains,  and  a  glorious  thrashing  it  is.  Go  forth, 
my  dear  Rowly,  wherever  you  are  invited  into  the 
devil's  territories;  carry  the  Redeemer's  standard 
along  with  you  ;  and  blow  the  gospel-trumpet  boldly, 
fearing  nothing  but  yourself  If  you  meet  with  suc- 
cess, as  I  trust  you  will,  expect  clamour  and  threats 
from  the  world,  and  a  little  venom  now  and  then  from 
the  children.  These  bitter  herbs  make  good  sauce 
for  a  young  recruiting  scrjcant  whose  heart  would  be 


68  LETTER  OF  MR.  BERRIDGE. 

lifted  up  with  pride,  if  it  was  not  kept  down  by  these 
pressures.  The  more  success  you  meet  with,  the  more 
opposition  you  will  find  :  but  Jesus  sitteth  above  the 
water-floods  and  remaineth  a  king  for  ever.  His  eye 
is  ever  upon  you,  and  his  heavenly  guards  surround 
you.  Therefore  fear  not ;  go  on  humbly,  go  on  bold- 
ly, trusting  only  in  Jesus,  and  all  opposition  shall  fall 
before  you.  Make  the  scriptures  yoar  only  study, 
and  be  much  in  prayer.  The  apostles  gave  themselves 
to  the  word  of  God  and  to  prayer.  Do  thou  likewise ; 
labour  to  keep  your  mind  in  a  heavenly  frame  ;  it  will 
make  your  work  pleasant,  and  your  preaching  and 
your  conversation  savoury.  Now  is  your  time  to 
work  for  Jesus  ;  you  have  health  and  ^^outh  on  your 
side,  and  no  church  or  wife  on  your  back.  The 
world  is  all  before  you,  and  providence  your  guide 
and  guard.  Go  out  therefore,  and  work  whilst  the 
day  lasteth  ;  and  may  the  Lord  Jesus  water  your  own 
soul,  and  give  ten  thousand  seals  to  your  ministry. 

I  am  with  great  affection  your  J.  B e." 

For  R.  Hill,  Esquire,  to  be  left  with 

the  right  honourable  the  Countess  of 

Huntingdon,  at  Bath,  in  Somersetshire. 

On  the  day  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  proceeds  in  his  diary — "  May  9th,  Bridge- 
water,  on  Luke  xix.  10 — The  son  of  man  came  to 
seek  and  to  save  that  lohich  ivas  lost.  A  large 
assembly  of  people,  but  very  little  comfort.  Lord, 
what  an  unprofitable  servant.  O  that  I  might  do 
better  for  the  future." 

"  10th,  at  Stowey,  to  the  most  outrageous  congre- 
gation I  ever  saw.  There  was  such  a  noise  with 
beating  of  pans,  shovels,  (fcc.  blowing  of  horns  and 
ringing  of  bells,  that  I  could  scarce  hear  myself 
speak.  Though  we  were  pelted  with  much  dirt, 
eggs,  (fee.  I  was  enabled  to  preach  out  my  sermon." 

"  11th,  at  Putsham,  to  a  serious  and  attentive  con- 
gregation out  of  doors,  on  Heb.  ii.  17,  18,  on  the 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  JOURNAL.  69 

compassionate  unchangeable  priesthood  of  Christ. 
Though  I  had  not  a  deal  of  Uberty,  yet  some  I  beheve 
were  comforted  in  their  souls.  Though  the  congre- 
gation stood  serious,  some  scoffed  at  a  distance,  others 
threw  stones.  One  man  was  slightly  cut,  and  another 
almost  stunned  by  a  blow,  which  cut  him  violently 
over  the  eye.  We  could  get  neither  sight  nor  know- 
ledge of  our  secret  enemies  in  this  affair  :  may  the 
Lord  forgive  and  convert  them." 

"  Sunday,  12th,  a  day  much  to  be  remembered. 
Commented  in  the  morning  to  a  few  serious  people 
at  Putsham.  Some  unction  attended  Avhile  I  ex- 
plained to  them  part  of  the  first  Psalm.  After  dinner, 
rode  to  Watchet,  preached  upon  the  prodigal  son,  / 
ivill  arise,  ^'C.  Luke  xv.  18,  19,  out  of  doors,  with 
some  freedom  and  power,  to  some  hundreds,  who 
behaved  with  the  deepest  attention.  This  town 
seems  totally  conquered ;  praise  the  Lord.  From 
hence  rode  to  Dunster,  a  market  town,  where  was 
a  congregation  consisting  of  near  2,000  hearers. 
Though  the  gospel  had  only  been  preached  here  four 
times  before,  yet  through  the  goodness  of  the  Lord 
in  putting  it  into  the  heart  of  a  magistrate  to  pimish 
offenders,  all  opposition  seems  to  be  at  an  end.  The 
people  behaved  with  the  most  awful  attention,  while 
I  was  enabled  to  preach  with  much  freedom  on  Is. 
xlviii.  22.  There  is  no  j)cace  for  the  icicked.  After 
having  finished  here  about  a  quarter  after  se\^en, 
according  to  a  very  pressing  invitation,  after  a  little 
refreshment,  I  went  with  three  hundred  souls  to  Mine- 
head,  who  came  over  to  hear  and  invite  the  preach- 
ing to  their  to^vn.  A  congregation  which  was  sup- 
posed to  consist  of  full  2,000  souls  was  presently 
collected.  All  but  a  very  few  of  the  upper  sort  of 
people  behaved  with  remarkable  attention,  and  seem- 
ed deeply  struck  at  the  majesty  of  the  word,  which 
came  with  power,  having  great  liberty,  and  being 
enabled  to  pour  forth  my  soul  amongst  them  with 
much  love  while  explaining  to  them  Luke  xiv.  21, 


70  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  JOURNEY. 

Go  out  quickly  into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city 

and  bring  in,  6^c.  4*c." 

"  13th,  at  Melsconb  (Melksham,)  on  1st  of  Isaiah, 
2,  3,  Hear,  O  heavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth,  I  have 
7iourished,  (^c.  A  miserable,  dry,  humbling  time.  A 
large  number  of  people  unaffected  and  inattentive  ; 
it  was  in  a  dissenting  meeting  house.  I  wanted  hum- 
bling, the  Lord  make  it  useful,  and  take  away  my 
pride."' 

"  14th,  at  Stockegomar,  on  Jer.  iii.  33, 1?i  vain  is 
salvation  hoped  for  from  the  hills,  ^'c.  4*c.  Here 
also  I  had  rather  a  humbling  time.  Some  were 
offended  at  my  plainness,  others,  however,  were 
blessed." 

"Wednesday.  15th,  in  the  morning  at  five  o'clock. 
Explained  to  them  the  23d  Psalm  with  comforta;ble 
enlargement.  The  Lord  ivill  not  always  he  chiding ; 
O  tliat  I  may  learn  humility  for  the  future.  In  the 
evening  at  Bridgewater,  on  Job  xlvi.  4,  Behold  I  am 
vile.  With  some  liberty.  The  congregation  was  not 
so  large,  which  I  fear  was  occasioned  by  the  deadness 
of  my  preaching  the  last  time.  I  think  this  is  the 
first  time  I  ever  preached  to  a  decreasing  congrega- 
tion.    Lord  make  me  careful  and  prayerful." 

"  15th  continued,  and  preached  again  at  Bridge- 
water,  with  some  though  not  so  great  freedom  as  the 
time  before.  By  what  I  have  seen  in  this  western 
round,  I  believe  that  God  is  about  to  revive  his  work 
in  the  midst  of  us.  Doors  are  opening  every  where ; 
the  hearing  ear,  and  the  understanding  heart,  are  given 
to  many.  I  am  more  than  ever  convinced  that  itine- 
rant preaching  does  a  world  of  good,  and  that  God 
blesses  it  continually.  0  for  more  life  and  diligence 
to  do  more  for  Christ." 

Mr.  Hill  next  returned  to  Bristol,  and  preached 
there  twice  on  Sunday  the  19th.  He  concludes  his 
notice  of  these  sermons  by  the  remark — "  a  gracious 
gale  through  mercy  attended  all  day.  Who  would 
not  be  a  slave  for  Jesus  Christ !"     On  the  morning 


FIELD  PREACHING.  71 

of  the  following  day  he  preached  at  Kingswood,  and, 
"in  the  evening,"  he  says,  he  "  had  the  honour  to  com- 
mence viler  than  ever  by  renewing  field  preaching  in 
Bristol,  to  some  thousands,  upon  Acts  iii.  19,  Repent 
ye  therefore  and  he  converted^  that  your  sins  may  be 
blotted  out,  when  the  time  of  refreshing  shall  come 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  The  word  was  with 
power,  the  people  were  deeply  attentive,  and  a  great 
blessing  seemed  visibly  in  the  midst  of  us.  I  am 
fully  satisfied  as  to  field  preaching.  I  know  the  Lord 
puts  honour  upon  it,  and  am  sure  that  as  soon  as  ever 
that  custom  dies,  methodism  will  die  with  it."' 

While  at  Bristol  he  continued  these  labours  daily ; 
and  in  one  sermon  he  says  he  "  spoke  much  against 
the  Arians,"  and  that  he  had  "  a  comfortable,  profita- 
ble time."  His  text  was  Isa.  liv.  b,  Thy  Maker  is 
thy  husband.  He  adds,  "  glory  be  to  God  for  the 
smiles  and  refreshings  we  have  had  during  these  holy 
days.  The  Lord  I  trust  has  been  abundantly  Avith  us 
in  refreshing  showers  from  above.  Some  few  have 
been  a  little  provoked ;  I  cannot  help  it ;  I  mean  not 
to  oSend,  but  I  must  be  faithful.  The  loving  kind- 
ness of  the  Lord  should  teach  me  to  be  honest ;  he 
has  abundantly  given  me  the  hearts  of  the  people  to 
counterbalance  all  opposition.     Hallelujah." 

He  now  proceeded  to  Bath,  and  addressed  the  so- 
ciety of  Lady  Huntingdon  there ;  he  also  preached 
three  sermons  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  first  of  which 
he  designates  "  a  senseless  unfeeling  sermon,  to  a 
senseless  unaffected  congregation  ;"  from  the  second 
he  derived  more  comfort,  having  been  enabled  to  over- 
awe an  assembly  disposed  at  first  to  riot,  and  who, 
after  they  had  heard  him,  earnestly  entreated  him  to 
come  again  ;  and  from  the  third  he  expected  a  bless- 
ing, as  some  scoffers  were  drawn  out  into  attention. 
The  day  after  the  last  mentioned  sermon,  he  returned 
to  Bristol.  His  feelings  in  that  city  are  thus  describ- 
ed in  his  ovm  words — "  May  29th,  on  Luke  v.  13,  / 
will,  be  thou  clean.     A  comfortable  time  for  poor 


72         JUNE  16,  1771,   FIRST  SERMON  AT  WOTTON. 

doubters  at  the  Tabernacle.  I  have  hitherto  always 
found  enlargement  at  Bristol,  and  I  believe  the  Lord 
is  with  us  for  good." 

In  addition  to  his  own  labours,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
began,  while  at  Bristol,  "  early  five  o'clock  preach- 
ings," which  were  exceedingly  well  attended :  and  he 
was  followed  by  congregations  of  "  many  thousands" 
at  Pool,  and  other  places  in  the  neighbourhood.  He 
found  "  much  comfort"  from  a  visit  to  Worcester  ;  and 
on  his  return  to  Bristol,  preached  at  Stroud,  "  in  the 
streets,  to  a  very  large  number  of  people,  with  some, 
though  no  great  power,  on  the  prodigal  sou,  /  loill 
arise^  <Sfc. ;  many  people  much  offended  at  my  plain- 
ness, but  much  blessed  to  others."  On  tlie  evening  of 
the  same  day  he  preached  at  Stroud,  he  addressed 
"  some  thousands  in  the  wood"  at  Rodborough,  which 
he  repeated  a  few  days  after,  and  says,  "  the  people 
were  watered  though  I  thought  myself  dry."  The 
next  place  he  mentions  in  Gloucestershire,was  •'  Pains- 
wick,  upon  the  common,  in  a  wagon  for  my  pulpit," 
and  the  following  evening  at  Rodborough,  in  the  Ta- 
bernacle, "  because  it  was  damp."  On  Sunday,  June 
16th,  he  preached  at  Dursley  to  immense  crowds,  and 
went,  for  the  first  time,  on  the  evening  of  that  day, 
to  Wotton-under-edge,  a  place  that  was  destined  to 
become  his  favourite  summer  residence  in  after  life. 
His  own  account  is — "  Sunday  eve.  Wotton-under- 
edge,  a  fresh  place.  The  first  sermon  amongst  them ; 
they  behaved  with  remarkable  attention,  and  stood  in 
great  crowds  under  the  market-place,  while  I  spoke 
from  Ephes.  v.  19,  Aivake  thou  that  sleepest,  6^c. 
My  soul  upon  the  whole  was  much  at  liberty,  and  the 
people  seemed  much  revived."  An  old  lady  of  one 
of  the  most  respectable  families  in  the  town,  who  was 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  religion  under  his  ministry, 
used  frequently  to  describe  his  first  visit  to  Wotton. 
She  was  sitting  at  her  tea,  when  a  relation  suddenly 
came  in,  and  said,  "  Ann,  the  baronet's  son,  who 
goes  about  preaching,  is  now  under  the  market-house." 


'       ANECDOTE.  73 

"Are  you  sure  it  is  the  baronet's  son  himself?"  " Yesj 
that  I  am,  for  I  saw  his  brother,  Mr.  Richard  Hill) 
not  long  ago,  and  he  is  so  like  him,  I  am  sure  he  is 
of  the  same  family."  Upon  this  she  accompanied  her 
friend  out  of  curiosity  to  see  and  hear  the  stranger, 
little  thinking  of  the  alteration  his  preaching  would 
be  the  means  of  producing  in  her  own  views  of  her- 
self and  of  her  Saviour.  One  man  who  stood  by  her 
seized  a  stone  and  was  going  to  throw  it  at  Mr.  Hill ; 
but  another  who  was  near  him  laid  hold  of  his 
arm  and  said,  in  the  broad  dialect  of  Gloucestershire, 
"  if  thee  dost  touch  him  I'll  knock  thy  head  off," 
when  the  assailant  dropped  the  stone,  and  the  people 
all  became  quiet,  overawed  by  the  solemnity  of  the 
subject,  and  the  earnestness  of  the  preacher.  From 
Wotton  he  went  to  Bath,  where  he  preached  "  a  very 
offensive  sermon,  yet  much  blessed." 

In  Gloucestershire  he  lost  no  opportunity  of  ad- 
dressing the  multitudes  who  followed  him.  The  ef- 
fects produced  by  his  sermons  are  thus  described  by 
himself — "  few  dry  eyes  among  them" — "  certainly 
God  is  amongst  us" — "  all  things  go  on  gloriously 
here" — "  a  humbling  dry  time  to  my  own  soul" — "  a 
small  dead  unaffected  audience,"  [in  a  yard  at  Chel- 
tenham] "  what  miserable  work  it  is  to  preach  at  the 
rich,"  and  so  on.  His  chief  opponents  on  this  tour, 
were  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Devizes,  who  pelted 
him  with  eggs  and  stones,  and  followed  him  to  an  ad- 
jacent village,  where  "  were  many  poor  simple  people 
longing  to  hear  ;  but  some  of  the  Devizes  persecutors 
spoilt  the  opportunity  by  molesting  us  as  much  as 
they  could."  He  found  also  a  similar  spirit  of  opposi- 
tion at  Marlborough,  where  he  preached  "  upon  the 
green,  from  Isa.  xlviii.  22.  There  is  no  peace  for 
the  wicked,  to  a  very  rude  and  rebellious  congrega- 
tion, who  laughed  even  at  the  mention  of  the  text — 
they  pelted  me  with  stones  and  eggs,  but  through 
mercy  I  was  not  hurt." 

The  next  scene  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  exertions  was 
7 


74  LETTER  FROM  SHIPMAN. 

Plymouth  and  its  neighbourhood,  where  he  preached 
to  immense  congregations,  though  "  much  distressed 
by  a  letter"  he  had  received  from  certain  influential 
persons,  forbidding  him  to  preach  "  in  their  parts" 
any  more.  From  Plymouth  he  returned  to  Bristol, 
and  visited  many  of  the  places  before-mentioned  in 
its  vicinity;  after  which  he  made  a  tour  in  South 
Wales,  which  concluded  the  labours  of  1771. 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year  he  received  a  letter 
from  Shipman,  one  of  the  expelled  from  Oxford  in 
1768,  giving  him  an  account  of  the  triumphant  death 
of  one  of  his  brothers,  two  of  whom  he  had  lost.  It 
is  the  production  of  a  devout,  and  certainly  not  an 
illiterate  person.  "  Why,"  says  he,  "  art  thou  cast 
down,  O  my  soul  !  Is  there  not  reason  to  rejoice  'I 
The  spirits  of  two  of  my  dear  brothers  are  now  with 
God.  All  hail,  ye  happy  spirits  ;  now  are  you  joined 
to  the  glorious  company  of  archangels,  angels,  and 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect ;  now  do  you  see 
Jesus,  whom  unseen  you  loved  ;  now  are  you  sing- 
ing the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,  and  worship- 
ping the  great  and  glorious  God  face  to  face ;  now, 
while  I  am  left  in  a  world  of  misery,  and  surrounded 
with  mighty  enemies,  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the 
devil,  you  are  secure  in  the  embraces  of  your  God, 
and  basldng  in  the  beams  of  uncreated  glory."  This 
is  the  energetic  language  of  one,  who  but  for  the  sen- 
tence passed  on  him  at  Oxford,  would  gladly  have 
become  a  minister  of  the  church  of  England,  and 
whose  irregularities  were  only  occasioned  by  his 
horror  at  the  darkness  visible  which  covered,  as  with 
a  funeral  pall,  the  face  of  tlie  whole  land. 

January,  1772,  found  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  his 
usual  winter  quarters  at  Hawkstone,  where  he  re- 
ceived accounts  in  letters  from  his  friends,  of  the  re- 
sults of  his  itinerancy  during  the  preceding  summer. 
One  of  his  correspondents,  Mr.  Hunt,  of  Bristol,  in  a 
letter  dated  Jan.  22,  1772,  says,  "  I  frequently  call  to 
mind,  the  blessed  seasons  we  have  had  together,  when 


LETTER  or  MR.  HUNT,  OF  BRISTOL.  75 

the  Lord's  glory  shone  round  about  us,  and  his  power 
rested  upon  our  souls.  With  what  pleasure  did  I 
then  behold  the  large  and  attentive  congregations 
hanging  as  it  were  upon  your  lips.  O  for  more  of 
those  glorious  times,  however  enthusiastic  in  the  sight 
of  the  world,  and  imprudent  in  the  sight  of  some  pro- 
fessors. They  were  of  God — they  led  to  God." 
Speaking  of  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  he  writes — '•  your  dear 
brother  in  his  letter  desires  to  be  remembered  to  us. 
Be  pleased  to  present  my  kind  respects  to  him  in  be- 
half of  hundreds  to  whom  he  is  very  dear.  His 
labours  of  love  last  summer  will  be  long  had  in 
remembrance."  To  this  letter  iis  added  the  fol- 
lowing postscript : — "  Mr.  Kinsman  in  a  letter  to 
a  friend  writes  thus — Dear  Mr.  Hill  was  much 
blessed  at  Plymouth  to  the  stirring  up  of  many 
young  professors;  (fee.  ;  may  God  fill  you  with  hu- 
mility." 

After  what  has  been  before  stated  of  Mr.  Richard 
Hill,  the  allusion  to  his  labours  in  this  letter  will  be 
received  with  surprise.  The  circumstances  under 
which  he  was  prevailed  on  to  preach  are  as  remark- 
able as  the  fact  itself  Sir  Rowland  Hill,  gratified  by 
his  cessation  from  his  once  favourite  pursuit,  sent 
him  to  Bristol  to  prevail  on  his  brother  Rowland  to 
follow  his  example  and  return  home.  On  his  arrival 
at  Bristol,  Mr.  Richard  Hill  heard  that  Rowland  was 
gone  to  Kingswood  to  preach  to  the  colliers.  He 
immediately  followed  him,  and  found  him  surrounded 
by  an  immense  multitude  of  these  long  neglected 
people,  listening  with  the  greatest  interest  to  the 
solemn  appeal  he  was  making  to  their  consciences. 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  saw  his  brother,  and  guessing  his 
errand,  only  proceeded  with  increased  earnestness  ;. 
and  such  was  the  power  of  his  address,  that  the  black 
faces  of  the  poor  colliers  soon  exhibited  innumerable 
channels  of  tears,  which  the  sermon  had  caused  them 
to  shed.  Mr.  Richard  Hill  was  much  affected  by  the 
unusual  scene,  and  his  brother  Rowland  taking  ad- 


76  ANECDOTE. 

vantage  of  his  emotion,  announced,  at  the  conclusioa 
of  theservice — "  My  brother,  Richard  Hill,  Esq.  will 
preach  here  at  this  time  to-morrow."  Taken  by  sur- 
prise under  the  impression  produced  by  what  he  had 
just  witnessed,  Mr.  Richard  Hill  consented  to  preach 
to  the  colliers;  and  instead  of  returning  with  his  bro- 
ther to  Hawkstone,  became  his  coadjutor  in  the  very 
work  he  designed  to  persuade  him  to  relinquish. 
This  is  the  true  version  of  a  story  which  has  been 
variously  related,  and  is  one  of  the  remarkable  in- 
stances of  the  tact  and  persuasive  power  possessed  by 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill. 

Testimonies  of  his  usefiilness,  similar  to  those  con- 
tained in  the  letter  of  Mr.  Hunt,  were  sent  him  from 
many  other  quarters,  together  with  congratulations  on 
the  kind  reception^  accompanied  with  some  trials,  he 
informed  his  friends  he  had  received  in  his  own  fa- 
mily. No  one  wrote  to  him  with  more  cordiality 
than  his  old  friend  Mr.  Berridge,  who  was  looking 
forward  to  the  enjoyment  of  receiving  him  at  Ever- 
ton,  when  he  came  to  the  university  to  take  his  mas-  * 
ter  of  arts  degree.  He  tells  him  that  he  must  con- 
sider his  admission  to  his  father's  house  as  "  mercy 
from  the  Lord,  who  prevents  expulsion  after  nine 
month's  itineration  ;"  and  adds,  "  your  retreat  must 
have  its  trials  too  ;  and  kindly  they  are  provided,  lest 
you  should  love  a  retreat  too  well,  and  tarry  too  long." 
He  advises  him,  moreover,  to  go  on  as  soon  as  pos- 
ble  Avith  his  work,  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  and 
says  "  you  need  not  doubt  of  being  in  God's  way, 
because  he  owns  your  word" — "  make  the  best  of 
your  time  ;  and  whilst  the  Lord  affords  travelling 
health  and  strong  lungs,  blow  your  horn  soundly." 
In  conclusion  he  adds,  "  I  do  not  invite  you  to  Ever- 
ton  when  you  come  to  Cambridge,  because  a  man  who 
has  possession  of  my  heart  may  enter  my  house  with- 
out a  call.  Hearty  love  and  respectful  salutations  to 
your  brother  ;  and  hope  when  he  visits  Yelling  he 
will  not  forget  Everton.     I  have  a  chapel  and  a  ca- 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  S  SUCCESS  IN  LONDON.        77 

thedral  at  his  service.  Grace  be  with  you  and  with 
your  J.  B e." 

Following  his  old  friend's  advice, Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
came  out  from  his  retreat  at  Hawkstone  in  the  spring 
of  1772,  and  visited  his  favourite  Bristol,  where,  and 
in  its  vicinity,  he  preached  many  sermons.  It  appears 
from  his  memoranda  that  he  went  five  times  to  Wot- 
ton-under-edge,  though  witliout  any  idea  of  making 
that  most  lovely  spot  his  residence.  During  this  tour 
the  hills,  woods,  and  vales  of  Gloucestershire,  were 
the  scenes  of  his  addresses  to  many  thousands  who 
assembled  around  him,  and  the  character  of  the  man 
had  now  began  to  make  an  impression  even  on  his 
enemies. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was 
the  means  of  reviving  Mr.  Wliitefield's  cause  in  Lon- 
don, and  preached  to  immense  congregations  at  the 
Tabernacle  and  Tottenham  Court  chajiel.  His  resi- 
dence was  the  Tabernacle  house  in  Moorfields,  from 
which  he  made  preaching  excursions  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  London,  in  addition  to  his  labours  in  the 
metropolis  itself  The  effect  of  his  addresses  to  the 
people  on  these  occasions  were  extraordinary  in  the 
extreme.  One  individual  wrote  him  word  for  his 
encouragement,  tliat  the  Lord  had  blessed  the  truths 
he  had  delivered  to  "  hundreds,"  nay,  he  might  safely 
say  "thousands,"  and  earnestly  entreats  him  to  return 
as  soon  as  possible,  as  "  multitudes  longed  for  the 
time  when  they  should  hear  him  again."  "  Many," 
he  continues,  "I  have  visited  on  their  sick  beds,* 

*  Many  instances  of  this  kind  occurred  as  the  result  of  his 
preaching  :  one  most  unexpectedly  happened  to  myself.  In  the 
year  1821,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  preached  at  Norwich,  and  about 
four  years  afterwards  an  old  woman  was  brought  from  that  city 
into  the  workhouse  of  Acle.  She  was  taken  ill,  and  I  visited 
her,  and  found  that  she  was  acquainted  with  the  way  of  salva- 
tion as  it  is  in  Jesus.  I  inquired  of  her  by  what  means  she  was 
brought  to  a  knowledge  of  the  way  of  life.  She  replied,  "  three 
or  four  years  ago,  I  saw  a  crowd  going  along  a  street  in  Nor- 
wich; I  a*ked  where  they  were  going;  and  they  toid  me  to  hear 
a  famous  preacher  called  Rowland  Hill.     I  followed  them  and 

'  7* 


78  CAPTAIN  JOSS. 

blessing  God  for  the  time  they  heard  you.  Notes 
of  thanks  were  put  up  from  whole  families  stirred  up 
to  seek  the  Lord  by  your  ministry." 

While  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  eng-agfed  in  London, 
captain  Joss,  a  zealous  follower  of  Mr.  Whitefield, 
was  visiting  and  stirring  up  his  Gloucestershire  hear- 
ers, and  sent  him  from  time  to  time  accounts  of  the 
progress  of  their  cause,  to  which  he  added  urgent 
exhortations  to  continue  his  exertions.  "  Enterpri- 
sing captains,"  he  says,  "  in  time  of  war,  make  great 
interest  to  get  roving  commissions,  in  order  that  they 
may  cruise  where  they  please,  and  that  an  opportu- 
nity iTiight  thereby  fall  in  their  way  of  maldng  many 
prizes  ;  while  lazy  and  cowardly  captains  make  inte- 
rest for  a  line-of-battle  ship,  in  order  that  they  may 
skulk  under  the  lee  of  an  admiral.  God  hath  hon- 
oured you  with  a  roving  commission,  and  I  am  very 
glad  that  you  keep  the  sea."  If  "dubbed  Captain 
Crazy  "  by  poltroons,  he  advises  him  to  disregard  it, 
for  "true  sailors  "  would  "go  through  fire  and  water 
for  him,  and  love  him  dearly."  "  Thus,"  he  adds, 
"  you  see  the  sailor  has  tumbled  down  upon  me  una- 
wares, but  a  word  to  the  wise  is  enough.  I  have 
been  cruising  in  the  latitude  of  Gloucestershire  for 
fourteen  days,  and  have  met  with  some  pretty  smart 
engagements  at  Wotton,  Dursley,  and  Rodborough, 
in  particular.  Last  night,  at  Frampton,  we  had  one 
shot  fired  at  us  which  struck  brother  Glover  between 
wind  and  water ;  he  careened  and  stopped  his  leak, 
and  we  presently  silenced  the  enemies,  and  I  sincerely 
hope  real  good  was  done."  . 

Captain  Joss  was  not  his  only  assistant  at  this  time  ; 
there  were  those  in  Gloucestei'shire  whose  lives  were 
spent  in  the  endeavour  to  rouse  their  listless  neigh- 
bourhood to  a  sense  of  religion.    Amongst  them,  there 

could  scarcely  squeeze  iu ;  but  I  heard  him,  and  the  Lord  bless- 
ed that  sermon  to  my  soul.  I  knew  nothing  of  Christ  before, 
but  bless  the  Lord  I  know  him  now."  She  died  happily,  trusting 
in  her  Saviour. 


BUTCHER  HOGG.  79 

was  a  man  of  the  name  of  Hogg,  a  grazier  and  large 
butcher,  at  Painswick.  He  was  a  person  whose  cha- 
racter for  integrity  was  so  thoroughly  appreciated, 
that  even  the  irreligious  farmers  in  the  neighbourhood 
often  said  to  him  in  dealing,  "  Mr.  Hogg,  we  know 
you  will  give  us  the  value  of  our  cattle ;  you  are  the 
best  judge  of  the  proper  price,  take  them  and  pay  us 
wliat  you  think  them  worth."  Never  in  a  sino-le  in- 
stance did  they  regret  their  confidence  in  his  honesty. 
Amidst  all  his  eccentricities,  his  reputation  was  un- 
blemished ;  and  though  not  slothful  in  business,  he 
was  most  fervent  in  spirit.  He,  too,  wrote  to  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  to  encourage  and  comfort  him.  He 
assures  him  of  his  respect,  and  urges  him  to  redoubled 
diligence.  -  I  pray,"  he  says,  "  for  your  life  :  but  I 
hardly  think  you  will  live  many  years  ;  and  though 
I  cannot  spare  you,  I  will  not  say  spare  thyself;  for 
if  I  know  my  heart,  I  do  pray  the  Lord  to  give  poor 
barren  self  leave  to  kill  myself  in  crying  aloud  to  poor 
sinners,  and  if  I  am  not  hoarse  and  weak  for  two  or 
three  days  after  the  sabbath,  I  think  I  have  been  bar- 
ren and  dead."  This  man  had  tasted  of  the  love  of 
Christ,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  work  of  inviting 
others  to  participate  in  the  same  comforts  he  had  him- 
self so  richly  enjoyed. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  pro- 
ceeded to  the  degree  of  master  of  arts,  at  Cambridge, 
and  visited  his  friends  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
iniiversity.  He  also  preached  in  London,  and  in 
many  places  in  Kent  and  Surry,  after  which  he  re- 
tired, as  the  winter  came  on,  to  the  seat  of  his  family 
in  Shropshire.  From  his  friend  Captain  Joss  he  re- 
ceived, while  there,  accounts  of  his  converts  in  Lon- 
don— "  We  have  taken,"  he  informs  him,  "  above  one 
hundred  into  society  concerning  whom  it  may  be  said 
that  you  were  the  happy  instrument  of  opening  their 
eyes.  There  are  many  more  with  whom  I  have  con- 
versed, who  I  sincerely  trust  will  be  your  crown  of 
rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord — indeed,  my  dear 


80       AN  ADDRESS  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  IN  1772. 

brother,  what  the  Lord  hath  done  by  you  in  London, 
cannot  but  alFord  you  matter  of  joy  and  humiha- 
tion." 

The  style  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  addresses  to  the 
people,  were  at  this  period  of  life  extremely  simple 
and  forcible  ;  they  abounded  with  lucid  views  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  gospel,  mingled  with  sudden  bursts 
of  vivid,  sublime,  and  sometimes  singular  illustra- 
tions. A  specimen  of  his  mode  of  appealing  to  the 
people  is  to  be  found  in  a  preface  to  a  little  work 
containing  an  address  to  those  who  had  been  convert- 
ed by  his  ministry  in  London.  It  is  dated  Taberna- 
cle house,  August  27t}i,  17T2,  and  begins — "How 
happy  is  the  man  that  can  assume  this  character  to 
himself — a  sinner  saved  !  Stop  and  consider — is  it 
thine  ?  O  then,  what  miracles  of  mercies  have  been 
revealed  to  thy  heart !  The  world  by  nature  know 
nothing  of  our  Immanuel ;  but  the  convinced  sinner 
knows  that  he  is  lost  without  him  ;  lie  sees  that  he 
cannot  be  more  completely  fallen,  or  more  certain  of 
destruction,  than  he  is  in  himself  This  strikes  at  the 
root  of  all  his  self-righteous  pride,  and  compels  him  to 
ciy  out  as  with  the  prophet  of  old, '  Wo  is  me,  for  I 
am  undone,'  Isa.  vi,  5.  He  now  trembles  at  justice, 
and  prays  for  mercy.  He  sees  nothing  else  but  fla- 
ming vengeance  held  forth  by  the  law  ;  and  he  owns 
that  he  deserves  it  as  his  portion  for  his  iniquities. 
His  legal  hopes  from  a  covenant  of  works  now  fall  to 
the  ground.  Then  it  is  the  Lord  the  Spirit  divinely 
convinces  of  the  work  of  Jesus  :  he  sees  it,  and  is  en 
abled,  as  his  faith  increases,  to  rest  satisfied  with  the 
fulness  of  it :  he  rejoices  in  the  dignity  of  it,  and  is 
happy  in  the  security  of  it.  This  teaches  him  bold- 
ly to  renounce  all  his  ho??ie-s]n/u  righteousness  as 
dung  and  dross  :  he  dares  not  bring  it  as  a  condition 
at  first,  or  as  a  wretched  adjunct  to  complete  the  whole 
at  last :  no  ;  he  renounces  it  wholesale,  and  is  enabled 
to  rest  only  upon  Jesus  as  his  everlasting  all. 

"But  does  he  not  upon  these  principles  renounce  the 


HIS  VIEWS  OF  THE  DIVINE  DECREES.  81 

law  ?  Yes,  as  a  covenant  of  works,  he  renounces  it  al- 
together ;  for, '  he  is  dead  to  the  law  through  the  body 
of  Christ,  that  he  may  be  married  to  another.'  But 
does  he  renounce  it  also  as  a  rule  of  life  ?  No,  by  no 
means  ;  for  in  this  point  of  view  he  is  still  under  the 
law  of  Christ ;  and  love  to  Christ  makes  him  return 
obedience  as  his  privilege.  Besides,  among  his  new 
testament  blessings,  he  has  given  him  in  covenant 
with  Christ  his  head,  a  new,  i.  e.  an  obedient  heart. 
O  blessed  are  they  then  that  believe  in  Jesus ;  they 
have  all  things,  the  best  of  things,  and  all  too  for  no- 
thing." The  doctrines  stated  here  are  a  complete  re- 
futation of  the  charge  of  antinomianism  so  frequently 
broucrht  against  him.  This  awful  error  he  denounced 
from  his  earliest  days,  to  a  few  hours  before  he  en- 
tered into  his  Saviour's  presence  in  a  world  of  glory. 
His  doctrinal  opinions  remained  unaltered  to  the 
latest  moments  of  his  existence.  In  speaking  of  the 
doctrine  of  election,  he  used  often  to  say — "  here  I 
am  lost ;  I  cannot  fathom  with  my  puny  understand- 
ing the  mystery  of  the  divine  decrees — I  can  only 
say  with  St.  Paul  O  the  depth.  I  know  it  is  my  duty 
to  invite  all  to  Christ,  but  the  Holy  Spirit  of  the  living 
God  can  alone  enable  the  sinner  to  accept  the  invita- 
tion. I  do  not  like  the  word  Reprobation — PrcBte- 
rition  is  as  far  as  I  can  go — why  God  passes  by  some 
and  accepts  others  I  cannot  tell — we  must  wait  till  we 
see  as  we  are  seen,  and  knoiD  as  we  are  known.  We 
know  nothing — can  any  man  tell  me  why  grass  is 
green ?^then  let  us  leave  all  explanations^  and  be- 
lieve what  God  has  revealed." 

Before  he  was  ordained,  the  doctrines  of  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  were  exceedingly  misrepresented ;  and  in  the 
controversies  which  took  place  on  these  questions, 
there  were  found  persons  ready  to  fan,  rather  than  to 
allay,  a  flame  which  tended  only  to  consume,  and  not 
to  enlighten  the  portions  of  the  Christian  camp  in 
which  it  burned.  In  a  letter  dated  London,  Nov.  16, 
1772,   Captain  Joss,   no  doubt   on  the  information 


82  WANT  OF  A  CENTRE  OF  UNION. 

of  Others,  tells  him  "Mr.  W y  said  last  night, 

election  was  the  most  horrid  monster  upon  earth  ;  no 
name,  said  he,  is  bad  enough  for  it,  or  them  that  liold 
it ;  they  are  obliged  to  draw  a  veil  over  it,  and  only 
let  a  corner  of  the  monster  be  seen,  for  if  the  beast 
were  wholly  unmasked,  nineteen  of  the  people  out  of 
twenty  would  run  away — and  also  said  that  he  would 

write  to  the  bench  of  b s,  and  that  he  would  make 

Mr.  R.H.  ashamed  of  himself  Indeed  he  seems  almost 
[in  a]  frenzy — many,  many,  many,  send  hearts  full  of 
love  to  you."  On  this  and  similar  reports  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  remarks,  in  vindication  of  the  practical  nature  of 
his  preaching— "I  bless  God,  it  is  our  mercy,  (who  are 
called  Calvinists,)  that  we  can  appeal  to  heaven,  as  well 
as  to  the  consciences  of  all  our  hearers,  that  in  the  inte- 
grity of  our  hearts  we  are  ever  bearing  the  swiftest  wit- 
ness agamsi  all  iniquity,  without  the  least  reserve;  and' 
that  we  are  making  it  the  subject  of  almost  every  dis- 
course, that  withont  holiness^  'personal  and  universal 
holiness,  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord.     Yet  with  the 
greatest  injustice  is  Mr.  Wesley  ever  branding  us  with 
the  detested  name  of  antinomiaits,  while  he  must  be 
convinced,  that  in  our  inmost  souls,  we  entirely  dis- 
own both  the  principles  and  practices  of  those  revolt- 
ers  from  obedience  ;    insomuch,  that   I  have  often 
known  it  to  be  a  fact,  that  when  some  of  those  good 
people  connected  with  him  have  ventured  to  break 
through  his  command  to  hear  what  dreadful  doctrines 
we  autinumians  have  to  advance,  they  have  been  as 
much  astonished  at  what  tliey  have  heard  in  favour 
of  holiness  as  if  they  had  been  sitting  upon  enchanted 
ground^     No  two  Christians  born  of  the  spirit  of 
God  can  have  essential  differences — had  there  exist- 
ed, in  the  times  to  which  we  are  referring,  such  a 
centre  of  union  as  the  bible  society,  upon  whose  plat- 
form all  the  varied  colours  of  the  prism  are  blended 
together  in  one  common  purity  and  briglitness, — had 
these  zealous  men  come  more  together,  slight  would 
have  been  the  controversy  now  to  be  recorded  as  hav- 
ing taken  place  between  them. 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  PREPARES  FOR  ORDERS.      83 


CHAPTER  III. 

MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  PREPARES  FOR  MARRIAGE 
AND  ORDERS. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1773,  Mr.  Rowland 
HiH  was  contemplating  in  the  retirement  of  Hawk- 
stone  two  very  important  events — his  marriage  and 
his  ordination.  During  his  visits  to  his  brother-in- 
law  he  had  formed  an  attachment  to  his  sister,  Miss 
Tudway,  founded  upon  the  evidences  he  perceived  in 
her  of  the  truest  piety.  Her  mind  had  been  diverted 
by  the  power  of  rehgion  from  the  frivolous  pleasures 
of  the  world,  to  seek  the  solid  enjoyments  of  a  life 
devoted  to  God  ;  and  the  choice  of  Mr.  Hill  could 
not  have  fallen  on  a  lady  more  calculated  to  promote 
the  happiness  he  was  permitted  to  enjoy,  in  a  union 
of  nearly  sixty  years'  duration.  All  the  stories  which 
have  been  told  of  his  carelessness  as  a  husband,  and 
his  public  allusions  to  this  excellent  lady,  are  utterly 
without  foundation.  He  was  only  amused  at  most 
of  the  anecdotes  related  of  him,  and  said — -I  won- 
der at  people's  invention  :"'  but  when  told  it  had  been 
reported  that  he  had  made  some  remarks  in  public 
on  Mrs.  HilPs  dress,  he  exclaimed  with  indignation — 
"It  is  an  abominable  untruth — derogatory  to  my 
character  as  a  Christian  and  a  gentleman — they 
would  make  me  out  a  bear." 

The  following  letter,  from  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to 
Miss  Tudway,  will  be  considered  by  those  who  read 
it  as  a  model  for  the  courtship  of  a  ('hristian.  Upon 
the  original  are  the  words  in  the  hand-writing  of  Mrs. 
Hill,  "First  Letter." 


84         his  first  letter  to  miss  tudway. 

My  dear  madam, 

I  AM  told  by  my  dear  sister  that  you  are  no  stran- 
ger to  a  very  important  correspondence  in  which  you 
are  a  person  very  intimately  concerned.  Suffer  me, 
dear  madam,  with  the  utmost  simplicity,  to  speak  all 
my  mind.  And  first,  I  thhik  I  can  safely  say  with 
all  my  heart,  as  before  the  presence  of  God,  that  I 
love  your  person — without  this  on  both  sides  the  ques- 
tion, there  can  be  no  real  happiness  in  such  a  con- 
nexion as  you  know  is  upon  the  tapis.  Permit  me 
also  to  say,  that  I  am  fully  persnaded  of  the  truest 
work  of  grace  upon  your  soul ;  and  though  I  know 
the  sincerity  of  your  mind  makes  you  at  times  doubt 
of  every  thing,  yet  your  very  doubts  to  me  are  the 
strongest  evidence  of  the  sincerity  of  your  heait. 
Thus,  as  a  man  and  as  a  Christian,  with  your  leave, 
would  I  be  glad  to  make  choice  of  you  as  my  part- 
ner through  life.  But  now,  dear  madam,  let  us,  above 
all  things,  consult  matters  honestly  before  God  as  to 
your  union  with  a  poor  worm  in  the  character  of  a 
minister  of  Christ.  Here  I  will  be  explicit,  as  I  mean, 
above  all  things,  to  ])e  honest  before  God.  The  pre- 
sent plan  of  labour,  to  which  it  seems  evident  to  me 
it  has  pleased  God  to  call  me,  will  frequently  com- 
pel me  to  leave  my  home,  wherever  it  may  be,  and 
to  take  up  at  times  the  life  of  an  itinerant,  and  such 
a  life  as  this  you  must  expect  will  sometimes  be  at- 
tended, as  to  myself,  with  hardships  and  contempt. 
Were  your  kindness  for  my  person,  however  it  might 
be  the  language  of  love,  to  make  you  attempt  to  dis- 
suade me  from  this,  such  dissuasion  would  not  only 
be  a  burden  upon  my  mind,  but  also,  if  not  complied 
with,  a  grief  to  yourself — and  now,  dear  madam,  if 
such  an  union  should  take  place,  do  you  think  you 
could  make  your  mind  perfectly  easy  in  thus  giving 
me  up  to  the  service  of  the  Lord  ?  Can  you  be  con- 
tented to  see  me  a  despised  pilgrim  for  my  once  de- 
spised master,  rejected  for  my  labours,  and  reproach- 
ed for  my  God?  I  know  the  diffidence  of  5^our  mind 


lilS  FIRST  LETTER  TO  MISS  TUDWAY.  85 

will  make  you  a  little  stagger  at  these  questions,  and 
yet  I  believe,  at  the  same  time,  you  will  lind  some- 
thing arising  at  the  bottom  of  your  mind  earnestly 
anxious  to  answer  them  aright.  And  should  such 
be  your  views,  should  you  be  enabled  to  love  me  on 
the  one  hand,  and  yet  to  give  mc  up  when  called  to 
it  on  the  other,  suffer  me  to  frame  to  myself  the  hap- 
py idea  of  being  possessed  of  such  a  companion  in 
tribulation,  and  such  a  partaker  of  my  joys,  as  will 
give  me  reason  of  thankfulness  to  the  day  of  my 
death. 

Thus  much,  however,  you  have  of  the  dark  side 
of  the  question,  and  I  choose  that  you  should  know 
it,  as  1  would  not  deceive  you  on  any  terms  what- 
ever :  in  other  respects,  as  I  am  sure  I  love  your  per- 
son, I  shall  always  think  it  my  pleasure  and  duty  to 
make  your  life  a  happiness  to  itself.  One  place  we 
would  have  (and  I  wish  it  might  be  Bristol)  which 
we  might  call  more  peculiarly  our  home.  London 
is  a  place  which  will  annually  expect  a  considerable 
share  of  my  time  and  labours  ;  and  from  the  gene- 
rous treatment  I  have  ever  received  from  all  con- 
cerned in  these  parts,  I  have  no  doubt  but  you 
will  enjoy,  as  being  connected  with  me,  equal  free- 
dom, without  expense  or  trouble,  as  if  entirely  at 
home. 

Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  inform  my  dear  sister 
Tudway  that,  after  much  consultation  before  the  Lord, 
I  sent  the  letter,  as  she  altered  it,  to  my  dear  father 
last  Tuesday.  As  yet  I  have  received  no  answer ; 
when  I  have,  you  and  she  shall  immediately  hear  the 
event.  In  about  a  week's  time  I  shall  move  towards 
Cambridge,  if  nothing  in  Sir  Rowland's  letter  prevent^. 
I  do  not  request,  though  I  shall  wait  with  earnestness, 
for  a  speedy  answer  to  this.  Dear  madam,  take  your 
time,  pray  it  over,  and  if  you  can  write,  write  all  that 
is  in  your  mind :  but  if  you  choose  not  to  do  this, 
speak  to  my  dear  kind  sister,  and  she  will  tell  me 
what  you  say  upon  this  occasion. 


86  LETTER  TO  MISS  TUDWAY. 

My  dear  madam,  may  grace  be  with  you,  and  may 
we  both  be  directed  for  the  best.     So  prays 
Your  most  truly  affectionate  friend 

and  servant  for  Christ's  sake, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

There  is  no  date  to  this  letter,  but  from  mention  of 
the  journey  to  Cambridge,  and  the  expression,  "  these 
parts,"  in  reference  to  London,  it  appears  to  have  been 
written  from  the  metropolis,  just  before  he  left  it  to 
take  his  master  of  arts  degree  in  1772. 

It  was  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr.  Tudway 
that  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  ordained  deacon.  The 
state  of  mind  in  which  he  contemplated  this  event 
will  be  best  illustrated  in  his  own  words,  in  a  letter 
to  Miss  Tudway. 

Berwick,  February  2nd,  1773. 
My  very  dear  madam, 

I  suppose  by  this  time  you,  my  dear  sister,  (fee, 
are  now  all  got  safe  to  London,  I  therefore  sit  down 
to  tell  you  all  about  it.  I  did  not  get  home  till  Fri- 
day last,  and  was  stopped  on  the  Thursday,  on  the 
road,  by  the  severest  wetting  I  think  I  ever  met  with. 
Upon  my  arrival  I  found  all  things  well ;  nothing 
was  said  about  my  long  stay  from  home,  as  they  did 
not  themselves  expect  me  before.  I  am  now  for  a 
day  or  two  with  Mr.  Powys,  of  Berwick. 

Now  concerning  this  application  to  your  old  bishop 
for  ordination.  Mr.  Tudway's  kindness  hi  offering 
his  assistance  I  most  gratefully  aclmowledge,  and  for 
the  sake  of  the  pleasure  it  would  give  my  friends  and 
relations,  glad  should  I  be  to  see  the  event  brought 
about.  So  far  as  I  can,  therefore,  Avithout  wounding 
my  conscience,  I  would  do  the  utmost  in  my  power 
not  to  frustrate  the  event ;  and  if  Mr.  Tudway  chooses 
first  to  sound  [the  bishop's]  inclinations  about  it,  and. 
there  seems  a  probability  of  success,  I  believe  I  could, 


LETTER  TO  MISS  TUDWAY.  87 

with  a  safe  conscience,  while  matters  are  in  agitation 
for  a  time,  witiidraw  from  more  pubUc  labours,  so  as 
not  to  give  immediate  disgust. 

I  can,  however,  never  think  of  making  any  future 
promises  of  altering  my  conduct  from  what  it  is  at 
present,  even  after  ordination,  if  I  should  see  it  ray 
duty  still  to  go  on  as  before. 

It  might  be  represented  that  I  am  a  younger  brother 
with  a  small  fortune,  that  I  was  bred  up  for  tlie  church, 
have  taken  two  degrees,  consequently  much  has  been 
expended  on  my  education ;  but  that  all  is  lost  upon 
me  without  ordination — and  that  it  is  now  too  late 
to  turn  my  hands  to  any  other  employment  in  life, 
&c.  (fee.  &.C. — and  if  he  (the  bishop)  has  heard  of 
all  my  doings,  it  might  be  mentiont'd  to  him  that,  as 
I  have  taken  a  religious  turn,  it  might  be  much 
better  to  ordain  me,  and  let  me  into  the  church,  than 
to  co?npel  me  to  go  preaching  in  the  fields,  rchether 
Iwoidd  or  no.  Mr.  T.  might  then  mention,  that  if  his 
lordship  would  take  time  to  consider  of  it,  Mr.  Hill 
would,  in  the  interval,  get  proper  testimonials,  title, 
&c.  Perhaps  also,  it  might  not  be  amiss  to  say,  if 
he  should  not  willingly  comply,  that  Mr.  R.  Hill  only 
requests  the  favour  of  deacon's  orders,  as  the  bishop 
of  Carlisle  has  promised  second  orders  whenever  he 
applies.  If  he  should  ask  the  reason  of  this,  it  may 
be  said,  that  as  he  unfortunately  met  with  a  repulse 
from  the  late  bishop  of  Ely,  the  bishop  of  Carlisle, 
being  then  but  just  come  upon  the  bench,  was  unwil- 
ling to  counteract  the  bishop  of  Ely,  but  [said]  that 
after  I  was  ordained  deacon  he  would  ordain  me  priest 
without  any  delay.  Let  me  not,  however,  be  thought 
to  direct  Mr.  T.  by  these  hints  ;  he  knows  best  the 
bishop's  temper,  and,  consequently,  how  to  proceed. 
My  brother  also  may  be  consulted. 

****** 
When  the  bishop  comes  down  to  Wells,  I  dare  ven- 
ture to  say,  that  canon  Level  will  speak  a  kind  word 


88  LETTER  TO  MISS  TUDWAY. 

on  my  behalf,  since  I  did  not,  while  there,  either 
preach  at  the  d-oss,  or  give  them  offence  by  any  lai/~ 
preaching;  as  they  heard  of. 

Thus  much,  my  dear  madam,  concerning  ordina- 
tion. I  desire  to  leave  it  simply  to  the  Lord,  and  pray 
that  I  may  be  enabled  to  preserve  a  conscience  spot- 
less in  the  affair.  I  am  fully  persuaded  what  is  my 
duty  before  God.  I  should  be  thankful  for  ordina- 
tion ;  but  as  I  am  forbidden  to  salute  any  man  by 
the  ivay,  I  must  go  forward.  At  present  I  am  what 
the  world  despises  as  a  lay  itinerant.  I  am  certainly 
convinced  of  the  Lord's  blessing  in  the  work  ;  this  is 
a  point  that  lies  solemn  upon  my  heart ;  and,  indeed, 
it  gives  me  the  sineerest  happiness  that  my  dear  Miss 
T.  would  rather  have  me  preserve  an  honest  con- 
science before  God,  than  by  in  the  least  injuring  it,  to 
enjoy  the  greatest  advantages  that  this  world  can 
give.  I  should  be  glad,  my  dear  Madam,  if  you  could 
hasten  these  matters,  that  my  mind  may  be  freed  from 
a  state  of  suspense.  In  the  interval.  I  shall  set  my- 
self hastily  in  concluding  matters  here  as  to  our 
union,  and  shall  wait,  not  without  anxiety,  to  hear 
how  the  bishop  sounds,  that  I  may  loiow  when 
speedily  to  prepare  for  my  journey  to  London,  that 
all  things  may  be  concluded  as  soon  as  convenient. 
I  cannot  help  frequently  making  you  the  subject  of 
my  prayers.  You  are  to  be  united  to  one  who  must 
bear  the  cross — this  makes  me  feel  for  you  with  a 
tenderness  and  sympathy  1  cannot  express.  You 
may  tell  my  dear  brother  that  I  made  a  loose  at  Hard- 
wick  last  Sunday,  [and]  am  to  do  so  again  the  next. 
When  I  have  heard  from  Bristol  about  the  house  in 
agitation,  I  will  immediately  inform  you.  In  the 
interval,  cease  not  to  pray  for  and  write  soon  to 
Yours  most  sincerely  and  most  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

To  Miss  Tudway. 

This  letter  was  soon  followed  by  another,  alluding 


LETTER  TO  MISS  TUDWAY.  89 

to  Miss  Tiidway's  state  of  mind  with  regard  to  reli- 
gion ;  and  describing  his  situation  at  home. 

Hough,  Feb.  12,  1773. 
Thanks  to  my  dear  Miss  T.  for  her  immediate 
answer  to  my  last  on  her  arrival  in  London.  I  am 
happy  also  to  hear  that  a  God  of  providence  protected 
yon  all  safe  to  your  journey's  end — and  what  a  mercy 
it  is  that  we  have  a  faithful,  unchangeable,  covenant- 
keeping  God  in  Christ,  as  our  God  of  grace,  to  pre- 
serve us  safe  in  our  journey  from  time  to  eternity. 
In  spite  of  all  your  doubts  and  fears,  I  have  no  doubt 
for  yon,  whatever  you  may  have  for  yourself,  that 
this  will  be  your  end,  happiness,  and  consolation 
everlasting.  You  say  in  your  letter  that  you  fear 
you  are  a  hypocrite,  though  it  is  written  for  your 
consolation,  ''  blessed  isthe  man  that  feareth  always;" 
yet  sure  1  am  that  this  your  miich-afraid  language 
is  nothins:  better  than  the  lano-aa^-e  of  unbelief.  You 
are  too  much  for  looking  into  self:  you  there  hnd 
that  all  is  misery.  O,  my  dear  madam,  look  but  to 
Jesus,  and  there  is  salvation  in  abundance.  'Tis  in- 
deed a  glorious  thing  to  know  oiir  sins — to  hate  our 
sins,  and  ourselves  upon  account  of  them  ;  and  when 
this  is  known,  where  should  we  fly  but  to  tJie  gospel 
for  a  remedy  ?  Remember  this,  that  Mary  Tudway 
is  as  bad  as  she  can  be — she  is  utterly  undone* — 
now  where  is  she  to  look  ?  Only  to  Jesus.  Her 
vile  heart  never  can  withstand  the  power  of  his 
grace.  Has  she  millions  of  sins  that  threaten  her 
destruction  7  the  Lord  has  received  double  for  them 
all.  In  Jesus  she  is  complete  : — the  Lord  give  her 
poor  trembling  heart  to  believe  this  ;  and  then,  as  she 
is  soon  to  change  one  of  her  names,  so  she  will  soon 
lose  another — that  ugly  name  much-afraid  you  will 
then  be  enabled  entirely  to  disown. 


*  The  doctrine  of  total  depravity  was  one  on  which  he  always 
strongly  insisted. 

5* 


90  MR.  ROWLAND -HILL  S  JOURNAL. 

Hawkstone  at  present  is  a  furnace  indeed.  You 
may  tell  my  brother  that  last  Sunday,  through  the 

instigation  of  ,  Sir  Rowland  absolutely  forbad 

me  leaving  the  family,  so  that  poor  Hardwick  cannot 
have  my  attendance.  I  shall  make  some  other  trials ; 
the  success  that  may  attend  them  must  be  left  to  the 
Lord.  1  wrote  to  my  brother  sometime  ago  largely, 
upon  the  subject  of  my  ordination,  and  now  expect 
every  post  to  hear  from  him  again.  My  present 
situation  is  nothing  but  idleness,  and  almost  total  loss 
of  time  ;  this  hurts  my  conscience  not  a  little.  I  am 
sadly  fearful  lest  these  attempts  for  ordination  should 
keep  me  longer  from  my  work,  which  I  am  so  fully 
persuaded  of  my  call  to  from  the  Lord.  Pray  my 
dear  brother  to  hasten  on  these  matters,  that  I  may 
know  whether  I  can  spare  the  time  that  may  be  re- 
quired for  this  affair.  As  yet  I  have  heard  nothing 
from  Bristol  about  the  house.  When  I  have  I  will 
let  you  know.  My  sister  wants  to  add  a  postscript, 
and  I  have  almost  filled  up  the  paper. 

I  remain  yours,  most  sincerely  and  affectionately, 

R.  HILL. 

Love  to  all  dear  Christian  relations.  My  sister's 
pretty  postscript  is  in  the  cover. 

Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  attendant  upon  his 
entrance  into  orders  from  his  former  lay  preaching, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  could  not  resist  leaving  Hawkstone 
in  March  this  year,  upon  a  short  journey.  His  own 
diary  affords  us  this  information. 

"  March  24,  1773,  set  out  from  Hawkstone  ;  reach- 
ed Coventry,  preached  at  six  in  the  evening,  to  a 
small  congregation,  notice  not  having  been  given,  in 
the  Baptist  Meeting-House,  upon  Solomon's  Song,  iv. 
12. —  The  Church  of  Christ  a  garden  enclosed^ 
He  says  of  Coventry — "  an  appearance  of  good  seems 
arising  here."     He  continues, 

"  Friday,  March  26,  hastened  to  Northampton, 
where  I  preached  in  the  late  Dr.  Doddridge's  meeting- 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILl's  JOURNAL.  91 

house,  to  a  large  assembly,  on  Moses  lifting  up  the 
serpent  in  the  Wilderness,  John  ii.  14,  15.  Even- 
ing, to  a  still  larger  congregation,  on  the  Prodigal 
Sort,  Luke  xv.  Lord's  day  morn,  preached  in  the 
same  place  ;  excessively  crowded,  many  stood  with- 
out. Most  attentive  and  serious,  Rev.  iii.  10,  Behold 
I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock,  6f'c.  Blessed  be  God 
for  a  good  appearance  at  Coventry  and  Northamp- 
ton." 

"  Olney,  March  28,  the  same  eve  reached  this  place ; 
a  very  large  congregation  from  every  quarter  attend- 
ed. No  meeting-house  would  nearly  hold  them. 
Preached  out  of  doors  for  the  first  time.  Go  ye  forth 
into  all  the  tvorld,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature,  Mark  xvi.  15,  1(}." 

From  Olney  he  went  to  Woburn,  the  residence  of 
his  friend  Mr.  Grove,  a  gentleman  of  fortune,  who, 
but  for  his  expulsion  from  Oxford  in  1768,  would 
have  devoted  himself  to  the  church,  from  which  he 
did  not  separate  till  he  was  refused  re-admission  to 
the  university,  though  he  promised  in  future  to  con- 
form to  the  statutes. 

At  Woburn,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  preached  on  five 
occasions  to  large  and  attentive  assemblies,  with  such 
success,  that  he  remarks  in  his  journal — "  blessed  be 
God  for  the  appearance  of  great  good  here."  Miss 
Tudway  justly  feared  that  these  irregularities  would 
become  Imown,  and  prove  a  hinderance  to  his  admis- 
sion into  orders,  and  gave  him  her  affectionate  advice 
to  discontinue  them.  This  drew  from  him  the  fol- 
lowing letter. 

My  dear  madam, 

Still  do  I  continue  a  prisoner,  though  a  prisoner 
at  large,  under  this  hospitable  roof  I  wish  I  could 
get  from  hence  to  Cambridge,  but  cannot  contrive  it 
without  either  coming  round  by  London,  or  being  at 
a  considerable  expense  in  hiring  a  man  and  horse  to 
travel  with  me  across  the  country,  to  carry  the  few 


92  LETTER  TO  MISS  TUDWAY. 

thino^s  I  have  with  me.  Besides,  I  really  think  my 
staying  here  will  be  much  better,  upon  second  con- 
sideration, than  going  to  so  public  a  place  as  Cam- 
bridge, where  I  am  so  well  known,  and  where  I  shall 
meet  with  many  solicitations  to  preach.  Here  there- 
fore I  will  stay,  and  I  have  a  hearty  welcome  till  the 
bishop's  answer  is  received.  On  Saturday  at  furthest, 
I  shall  hope  to  receive  it,  as  I  really  dread  staying 
over  here  on  the  Sunday,  my  temptations  to  preach 
will  I  know  be  so  great ;  and  if  I  do  not,  as  I  am 
known  in  these  parts,  I  know  it  will  slacken  dear 
Grove's  hands,  and  grieve  the  dear  people  of  God  in 
the  neighbourhood. 

Here,  as  well  as  in  other  places,  there  seems  to  be 
a  more  extensive  opening  than  ever — O  that  I  were 
at  liberty  to  labour  for  my  God.  I  wish  you  may  be 
at  ease  about  my  conduct,  since  I  can  assure  you  I 
act  with  all  the  caution  in  my  power.  I  wish  you 
never  to  feel  one  painful  sensation  about  me,  but  that 
the  kindest  harmony  of  disposition  may  ever  subsist 
between  us.  I  know  your  heart  is  upright  before 
God — your  fearing  mind  frequently  perplexes  you. 
I  am  sure  it  is  a  sign  of  a  most  tender  heart,  and 
such  tender  hearted  disciples  shall  never  want  direc- 
tion from  above. 

If  the  bishop  chooses  to  ordain  [me]  without  'pro- 
mise or  condition,  I  should  really  prefer  Scotland  for 
many  reasons.  This  however  must  be  considered  at 
another  time.  That  the  Lord  may  direct  us  both  at 
all  times  is  the  constant  prayer  of 

Yours  ever  most  tenderly  [and]  affectionately, 

R.  HILL.  . 
Woburn  near  Beaconshead,  Bucks, 
Thursday  evening. 

The  answer  of  the  bishop  being  favourable,  Mr, 
Rowland  Hill,  though  most  reluctantly,  withdrew  into 
his  native  county — "  there  being,"  are  the  words  in 
his  journal,  "  a  considerable  prospect  of  my  ordina- 


HIS  MARRIAGE  AND  ORDINATION.  93 

tion — retired  into  Shropshire,  and  preached  a  few  ser- 
mons at  Hardwick,  Marchamley,  (kc."  Preaching  was 
indeed  his  element ;  it  was  an  exercise  necessary  to 
the  heahh  and  vigour  of  his  mind,  so  that  Mrs.  Hill 
used  frequently  to  say,  in  his  declining  years,  "  what 
I  dread,  is  lest  he  should  ever  be  so  feeble  as  not  to  be 
able  to  preach — in  that  case,  what  would  become  of 
him  I  cannot  tell."  It  appears  in  a  letter  to  Miss  Tud- 
way,  written  a  few  weeks  before  he  went  to  London 
to  be  married,  that  he  was  most  impatient  of  the  re- 
straint now  placed  upon  him,  and  that  he  trembled, 
lest  any  of  his  former  followers  and  friends  should  at- 
tribute his  silence  to  the  diminution  of  his  zeal.  "All 
that  I  fear  is,"  he  says,  "  lest  my  being  in  London 
should  get  wind,  and  lest  my  silence,  and  apparent 
change  of  conduct,  should  disgust  or  dishearten  the 
dear  children  of  God.  I  have  the  tenderest  sensations 
about  these  matters  that  can  be  conceived.  I  seem 
to  be  assured  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  me  to  be  ■ 
as  secret  in  London  as  possible,  and  1  hope  we  shall 
be  moving  out  of  it  again  as  soon  as  convenient.  Ill 
tempered  professors,  that  hate  the  power  of  godliness, 
already  triumph — their  triumphs  have  in  a  measure 
perplexed  some  that  are  sincere.  The  hearing  of 
this  has  grieved  me  not  a  little.  I  do  hope  and  trust 
tliat  this  triumph  of  the  wicked  is  to  be  short.  Till 
then,  the  utmost  caution  I  am  convinced  should  be 
used,  and  other  matters  must  be  left  to  God."  In  this 
letter  he  also  expresses  his  intention  of  giving  up  the 
house  at  Bristol,  and  informs  Miss  Tudway  that  a 
house  was  building  for  him  at  Wotton-under-edge. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  May,  1773,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  was  married  at  Mary-le-bone  church,  and  went 
immediately  with  Mrs.  Hill  into  Somersetshire,  where 
he  was  ordained  deacon,  on  the  Trinity  Sunday  fol- 
lowing, by  Dr.  Wills,  the  aged  bishop  of  Bath  and 
Wells.  His  title  to  orders  was  the  parish  of  King- 
ston in  that  county,  and  his  stipend  forty  pounds  a 
year.     His  own  record  of  his  entrance  into  the  church 


94  MR.    ROUQUET. 

is  in  these  words — "  On  Trinity  Sunday,  June  6th, 
through  the  kind  and  unexpected  interposition  of  pro- 
vidence, was  I  ordained  by  the  bishop  of  Bath  and 
Wells  loithout  any  promise  or  conditiori  whatever.^'' 
He  proceeds — "  Tuesday,  June  8th,  preached  my 
first  sermon  at  Bristol  m  a  church,  for  dear  Mr.  Rou- 
quet.at  St.Werburghs,  to  a  large  congregation — Come 
out  from  among  them,,  ^*c.  2  Cor.  vi.  17,  18 — some- 
what assisted." 

Mr.  Rouquet  was  one  of  his  most  valued  and  inti- 
mate friends.  He  was  the  son  of  a  French  protestant 
refugee  whose  father  was  condemned  to  the  galleys 
for  his  religion.  He  was  educated  at  Merchant  Tai- 
lor's school,  and  at  St.  John's  college,  Oxford.  He 
became,  at  the  request  of  Wesley,  the  superintendent 
of  the  school  at  Kingswood  near  Bristol,  for  the 
education  of  the  children  of  Methodists,  and  the  sons 
of  itinerant  preachers.  He  was,  nevertheless,  ordained 
deacon  by  Dr.  Johnson,  bishop  of  Gloucester,  but  was 
dismissed  fi"om  his  curacy  for  preaching  from  house  to 
house,  and  in  the  jail  of  Bristol.  He  was.  notwith- 
standins:,  presented  to  a  vicarage  by  the  lord  chan- 
cellor, and  ordained  priest  by  Dr.  Wills,  bishop  of 
Bath  and  Wells,  who  was  so  pleased  with  his  exam- 
ination, that  although  a  strong  cry  of  Methodist  was 
raised  against  him,  he  appointed  him  to  preach  at  the 
next  ordination.  His  text  was.  Feed  'my  sheep  ;  but 
the  sermon  drew  do^^^l  upon  him  such  severe  cen- 
sures, that  the  bishop  desired  a  copy  of  it  might  be 
sent  him,  and  after  having  read  it,  wrote  him  a  most 
affectionate  letter,  expressing  his  entire  approbation 
of- its  doctrines,  and  assuring  him  of  the  continuance 
of  his  friendship.  After  this,  Mr.  Rouquet  pursued 
his  own  course  unhindered,  and  he  preached  at  the 
opening  of  the  Tabernacle,  at  Trowbridge,  in  1771  ; 
and  in  the  same  place,  on  the  anniversaries  of  that 
event,  till  his  death  in  1776,  without  any  notice  be- 
ing taken  of  his  irregularity. 

This  being  the  history  of  Mr.  Rouquet,  it  will  be 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  VISITS  KINGSWOOD.  95 

no  matter  of  surprise  that  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  preach- 
ed his  first  sermon  after  ordination,  at  St.  Werburghs, 
Bristol.  The  next  place  he  visited  was  Kingswood, 
the  scene  of  the  singular  adventure  between  himself 
and  his  brother  Richard.  Here  he  collected  around 
him  once  more,  the  poor  ignorant  colliers ;  and  after  ad- 
dressing them  with  the  most  affectionate  earnestness, 
he  proceeded  to  VVotton,  as  appears  from  his  diary. 

"  Friday,  June  11th,  Wotton.  Only  fear  the  Lord, 
and  serve  him  ;  for  consider  how  great  things  the 
Lord  hath  done  for  thee,  ^'c.  ^"C.  1  Sam.  xii.  21,  22, 
&,c.  Afterwards  had  a  sacrament  with  my  dear  bro- 
ther Joss." 

He  preached  once  at  Dursley  during  his  stay  at 
Wotton,  but  soon  returned  to  Kingswood,  where  he 
observes  on  two  of  his  sermons,  that  they  "  were  dry 
hard  times — O  what  an  unprofitable  worm."  Al- 
though he  generally  perceived  and  enjoyed  a  solemn 
effect  on  his  hearers,  he  always  felt  and  expressed  the 
humblest  conviction  of  his  own  weakness.  "  Oh  !" 
he  often  exclaimed,  "  how  much  better  I  ought  to 
have  preached — Oh  !  how  unworthy  I  am  to  be  an 
ambassador  for  Christ." 

One  of  his  most  frequent  observations  was,  that  he 
never  remembered  to  have  left  the  pulpit  without  an 
humble  recollection  of  his  own  unworthiness.  His 
ebulhtions  of  humour  and  fancy  while  preaching, 
were  often  succeeded  by  tears  of  contrite  sorrow,  and 
prayers  for  deeper  solemnity  of  mind.  He  had  natu- 
rally a  keen  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  which  seemed  at 
times  to  spread  its  influence  over  the  entire  surface 
of  his  mind  :  like  a  vapoury  cloud,  floating  across  the 
face  of  a  luminary  of  the  heavens,  some  comic  idea 
would  dim,  for  an  instant,  the  lustre  of  his  higher  con- 
ceptions ;  but  on  its  passing  suddenly  away,  his  ima- 
gination shone  forth  in  all  its  splendour,  and  gene- 
rally led  him  into  the  opposite  expressions  of  pathos  or 
sublimity.  This  is  the  constant  characteristic  of  his 
writings,  as  it  was  of  his  sermons. 


%  LETTER  FROM  MR.  BERRIDGJB. 

On  Sunday,  June  20,  1773,  Mr.  Rowland  Hilt 
preached  his  first  sermon  at  his  curacy,  from  1  Cor. 
ii.  2,  /  am  determined  to  know  nothiiig  mnong  you, 
<^c.  and  spent  "  a  comfortable  day"  there.  He  esta- 
blished a  Wednesday  evening  lecture  in  his  church  at 
Kingston,  but  was  much  dissatisfied  with  the  attend- 
ance. He  also  preached  almost  daily  in  the  villages 
around.  Mr.  Toplady,  very  soon  after  his  ordination, 
invited  him  to  Broad  Hembury,  and  tried  to  dissuade 
him  from  his  irregularities  :  his  remonstrances  were, 
however,  in  vain.  He  was,  as  Mr.  Berridge  said,  "  a 
comet,"  and  his  path  eccentric  and  unconfined.  He 
went  on  labouring  in  many  places  day  after  day,  till 
Tuesday,  August  24th,  when  he  was  "  taken  violently 
ill  with  a  bilious  complaint,  and  was  silenced"  for  a 
few  days,  but  on  getting  better,  re-commenced  his 
herculean  exertions.  He  met  with  every  species  of 
opposition  ;  was  lampooned,  burnt  in  effigy,  pelted, 
and  threatened — but  none  of  these  things  moved  him 
or  disturbed  his  inexhaustible  flow  of  spirits.  He 
placed  his  family  motto,  "  go  forward,"  on  his  seal, 
and  acted  on  its  precept.  His  active  itinerancy  greatly 
delighted  his  old  friend  Mr.  Berridge,  who  thus  be- 
gins a  letter  to  him,  dated  Sept.  3,  1773,  "  Dear  Sir, 
I  mean  my  dear  Rowly,  your  kind  letter  was  long 
in  coming,  but  it  brought  good  tidings,  and  refreshed 
my  heart.  The  motto  of  your  seal  rejoiced  me  much ; 
it  gave  me  a  peep  into  your  bosom,  and  a  taste  of 
your  letter  before  I  read  it.  Indeed  I  was  somewhat 
afraid  lest  orders  and  a  *  *  *  *  would  cure  you  of 
rambling  ;  but  my  fears  were  groundless,  and  all  is 
well.  The  lampoon  published  against  you  is  a  bless- 
ed omen  for  good,  that  God  intends  to  honour  you. 
It  seems  to  me  a  happy  token  that  you  will  remain 
an  itinerant,  and  that  much  good  will  arise  from  your 
ministry.  Luther  used  to  say,  when  the  Lord  had 
fresh  work  for  him,  a  strong  trial  was  always  sent 
beforehand  to  prepare  him  for  it  by  humiliation. 
Study  not  to  be  a  fine  preacher.     Jerichos  are  blown 


BERRIDGE  AND  FLETCHER.  97 

down  with  ram's  horns.  Look  simply  unto  Jesus  for 
preaching  food  ;  and  what  is  wanted  will  be  given, 
and  what  is  given  be  blest,  whether  it  be  a  barley  or  a 
wheaten  loaf,  a  crust  or  a  crumb.  Your  mouth  will 
be  a  tiowinof  stream,  or  a  fountain  sealed,  according 
as  your  heart  is.  Avoid  all  controversy  in  preach- 
ing, talking,  or  writing  ;  preach  nothing  down  but 
the  devil,  and  nothing  up  but  Jesus  Christ."  It  would 
have  been  happy  for  the  tlien  existing  Christian  world, 
if  this  rule  had  been  followed  ;  the  painful  recollec- 
tion would  thus  have  been  spared  us,  that  the  cham- 
pions of  the  cross  quarrelled  in  the  hour  of  victory. 
Mr.  Berridge  once  received  Mr.  Fletcher  with  all  the 
cordiality  of  believing  love ;  now  he  writes  in  the 
letter  from  which  his  advice  to  Mr.  Hill  is  quoted  :  — 
"  Mr.  Fletcher  has  sent  me  word  that  my  pamphlet 
contains  the  lore  of  antinomianism,  and  that  he  is 
going  to  publish  another  check  in  answer  to  it.  So 
he  may,  but  he  will  not  draw  a  reply  from  me."  Of 
F'letcher  it  is  but  justice  to  say,  that  he  had  jjut  aicay 
from  him  all  bitterness — perhaps  not,  however,  all 
clamour. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  Ryland,  junior,  of  Northampton, 
afterwards  the  well-known  Dr.  Ryland  of  Bristol, 
accounts  of  the  great  success  which  had  followed  his 
visit  to  that  place  and  country  in  the  spring.  He 
mentions  in  his  letter,  the  names  and  reliofious  state 
of  several  of  his  converts,  and  obsei-ves — "If  this  will 
not  excite  you  to  hasten  hither,  I  do  not  know  what 
will"  He  adds,  "  Hervey  goes  on  well — he  supped 
here  last  night.  Dear  Mr.  "Newton  preaches  at  Col- 
lingtree  to-day.  We  have  two  or  three  godly  old 
women  dying ;  one  poor  lad  m- ent  to  Wesley's  out  of 
curiosity,  and  has  been  half  in  despair  for  a  while 
through  their  falling  away  doctrine."  ';  They  at- 
tend,"hesayswithmuchcandour,  "at  our  place,  except 
the  fourth,  whose  relations  at  Kettering  were  fright- 
ened at  too  much  predestination,  too  much  water, 
9 


98  MR.  HILL  REFUSED  PRIEST  S  ORDERS. 

too  much  methodism,  and  the  encouragement  of  lay 
preachers,  so  they  could  not  be  easy  with  his  coming" 
to  us,  and  he  goes  to  Castle  Hill ;  but  he  is  a  very 
good  lad,  and  goes  on  ivellP 

Having  received  a  promise  from  the  bishop  of  Car- 
lisle that  he  would  ordain  him  priest,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  obtained  a  letter  dismissory  to  his  lordship  from 
the  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells  ;  but  he  excused  him- 
self, by  saying  that  he  had  received  an  order  from 
the  archbishop  of  his  province,  not  to  admit  him  to 
a  fiirther  grade  in  the  chuich,  on  account  of  his  per- 
petual irregularity,  and  that  he  considered  himself 
bound  to  obey  it.  Thus  ended  his  hopes  and  attempts 
to  get  into  full  orders. 

This  disappointment  is  only  slightly  noticed  in  his 
diary : — "  Missing  of  full  orders,  with  a  letter  dismis- 
sory from  the  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells  to  the  bishop 
of  Carlisle,  I  thought  it  was  my  duty  again  to  begin 
my  public  labours  as  usual." 

This  important  year  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  closed,  by 
great  activity,  in  the  metropolis  and  its  vicinity.  His 
journal  contains,  however,  scarcely  any  thing  but  the 
texts  he  preached  from,  with  here  and  there  a  remark 
— as,  "  Friday,  first  time  at  Richmond,  in  the  old  play 
house."  "  Wednesday,  heard  of  the  death  of  my  dear 
mother ;  she  died  Friday,  Dec.  17th,  at  half-past 
eleven."  "  My  first  charity  sermon  at  St.  Mary  Al- 
dermary."  "  Dec.  31st,  Greenwich,  a  concluding 
sermon  for  the  old  year.  Behold  I  am,  vile,  Job  xl. 
4.     Good  congregations  here." 

As  he  attracted  larger  number^  at  this  time  than 
any  other  person,  he  was  much  pressed  to  preach 
charity  sermons  in  the  churches  in  London,  invita- 
tions which  he  always  accepted  with  great  readiness  ; 
and  to  the  end  of  his  life  nothing  gave  him  more  ex- 
quisite pleasure  than  beingasked  to  preach  in  a  church, 
and  nothing  caused  him  such  evident  mortification  as 
a  refusal  to  allow  him  to  officiate  in  an  episcopal  place 
of  worship.     He  used  often  to  say — "  Good  Mr, 


HIS  UNQUALIFIED  STRENGTH  AND  SPIRITS.      99 

asked  me  to  come  and  see  him,  but  he  will  not  let  me 
preach  in  his  church ;  I  go  nowhere  where  I  cannot 
preach,  and  I  do  not  choose  to  hurt  his  mind  by 
preaching  in  a  meeting-house  while  on  a  visit  to  him." 
Sometimes,  when  mentioning  books  containing  stric- 
tures ontheestablishment,  he  wouldcxclaim — ••  I  don't 
like  that  book,  it  is  full  of  bigoted  railing  against  the 
church."     Nothing  made  him  more  indignant  than 
being  called  a  dissenter — "  I  am  not,"  he  would  say ; 
"  the  church  turned  me  off  and  not  I  her — I  confess 
I  like  a  little  more  liherti/  than  she  allows,  and  thank 
God,  I  can  ask  great  Dr.  Chalmers,  and  great  Dr. 
Morrison,  and  others,  when  they  come  to  London,  to 
preach  in  Surry  Chapel  pulpit'' — and  then  he  would 
add,  with  liis  own  indescribably  arch  look — "  I  sup- 
pose they  would  not  let  St.  Paul,  if  he  was  to  come 
upon  earth  now,  preach  in  his  own  cathedral ;  but  I 
really  do  not  think  it  would  produce  an  earthquake 
if  he  did."     He  was  soon  after  his  ordination,  often 
preaching  by  dawn  of  day,  and  the  shades  of  evening 
would  close  over  him  engaged  in  the  same  exercise, 
at  a  distance,  perhaps,  of  many  miles  from  the  scene 
of  Iris  morning  labours.    When  night  came,  instead  of 
being  tired,  his  spirits  seemed  to  rise  to  their  great- 
est height,  and  he  allowed  them  full  vent  in  the  over- 
flow of  his  animated  conversation.     After  a  day's 
exertions,  which  would  have  completely  prostrated 
the  strength  of  an  ordinary  man,  he  appeared  uncon- 
scious of  the  slightest  fatigue  :  and  when  supper  was 
at  an  end,  he  became  unusually  communicative  and 
entertaining,  and  would  tell  of  his  preaching  adven- 
tures, declare  the  experience  of  his  own  mind,  and 
enliven  the  social  circle  with  remarks  and  anecdotes, 
given  in  a  manner  such  as  those  only  who  knew 
him  in  retirement  can  possibly  conceive  ;  and  this, 
perhaps,  after  four  sermons  preached  to  assembled  thou- 
sands, with  an  energy  of  manner  and  power  of  voice  of 
the  most  extraordinary  nature .  Suddenly,  when  all  the 
party  were  raised  to  the  highest  pitch  of  interest,  he 


100  SHERIDAN. 

asked  "  what's  o'clock  ?"  and,  finding  it  was  late,  he 
would  exclaim — "  dearest  me,  only  think  of  that — it 
is  time  for  all  Methodist  preachers  to  be  in  bed  I  am 
sure"— then,  after  his  night's  rest,  he  began  the  next 
day  with  the  same  ardour  as  ever  in  the  service  of 
God. 

He  was,  after  his  marriage,  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Hill  on  most  of  his  preaching  expeditions,  and  very 
cheerfully  did  she  share  in  all  the  difficulties  and  pri- 
vations which  attended  him  in  his  extraordinary 
career ;  and  never  upon  any  occasion,  in  the  course 
of  their  union  of  more  than  half  a  century,  placed 
the  slightest  obstacle  in  the  way  of  what  her  husband 
considered  his  positive  duty  as  a  minister  of  Christ. 

This  year,  as  has  been  noticed  in  a  brief  quotation 
from  his  diary,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  lost  his  mother, 
Lady  Hill.  No  one  of  his  family  was  so  strongly 
opposed  as  she  was  to  the  course  he  was  pursuing. 
The  choice  of  the  first  text  he  preached  fi'om  after 
her  decease  was  remarkably  characteristic  of  him  :  it 
was  2  Sam.  xxiii.  5 — Although  my  house  be  not  so 
with  God,  yet  he  hath  made  with  me  an  everlasting 
covenant,  oi'dered  in  all  things  and  sure — an  evident 
allusion  to  the  religious  differences  existing  between 
himself  and  those  of  his  house,  a  circumstance  well^ 
kno\vn  to  the  congregation  of  the  Tabernacle  before 
which  he  preached.  The  great  secret,  perhaps,  of 
the  amazing  effect  of  his  preaching  was,  its  being  all 
nature.  He  generally  chose  the  subject  which  im- 
pressed and  affected  his  own  mind  at  the  moment, 
and  discoursed  on  it  as  he  felt,  not  as  he  had  pre- 
viously thought :  and  thus,  on  every  occasion,  whe- 
ther joyous  or  grievous,  he  found  his  way  to  hearts 
whos'e  strings  vibrated  in  unison  with  those  of  his 
own.  Sheridan  used  to  say  of  him,  "  I  go  to  hear 
Rowland  Hill  because  his  ideas  come  red-hot  from 
the  heart."  Never  was  there  a  truer  description  of 
the  preaching  of  any  minister  ;  he  spoke  as  he  felt ; 
and  the  tears  he  shed,  and  the  smiles  that  beamed 


AMBROSE  SERLE,  DEAN  MILNER.  101 

upon  his  countenance,  soon  "  wakened  up  their  fel- 
lows" in  the  hstening  throng  that  heard  him.  After 
one  sermon,  in  wliich  he  had  poured  forth  the  expe- 
rience of  his  pious  soul  in  expressing  the  exulting 
feelings  of  the  Christian's  joy,  Mr.  Ambrose  Serle 
came  into  the  vestry  of  Surry  Chapel,  and  seizing  him 
by  the  hand,  exclaimed — "  Oh,  my  dear  sir,  if  we  are 
so  happy  now,  what  shall  we  be  a  hundred  thousand 
years  hence  in  heaven  ?"  And  on  another  occa- 
sion Dr.  Milner,  the  celebrated  dean  of  Carlisle,  was 
so  worked  upon,  that  he  went  to  him  and  said — "  Mr. 
Hill,  Mr.  Hill,  I  felt  to-day — 'tis  this  slap-dash  preach- 
ing, say  what  they  will,  that  does  all  the  good."  The 
elements  of  our  nature  remain  unchanged  after 
the  highest  refinement  and  cultivation  of  the  under- 
standing; and  the  same  genuine  feeling  whicli 
touched  the  hearts  of  these  highly  gifted  men  in  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill's  riper  age,  was  the  secret  which 
attracted  the  spell-bound  multitudes  who  followed 
him  in  his  youthful  days. 
9* 


102  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  SERMONS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1774. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill'.s  first  sermon  in  the  year  1774 
was  at  Tottenham-court  chapel,  on  Sunday,  January 
2d ;  his  subject  was  the  barren  jig-tree.  He  preach- 
ed twice  more  the  same  day,  and  on  the  Monday  he 
proceeded  to  Berkhampstead,  and  after  expounding, 
"by  way  of  an  opening,  at  Mr.  Langton's,"  he  preach- 
ed in  a  church  in  the  neighbourhood.  Though  every 
day  at  this  time  was  filled  up  with  preaching  engage- 
ments, he  has  recorded  little  of  them  but  texts  and 
places.  He  remarks,  on  Thursday,  January  6th, 
"Consecration  day  at  Richmond.  Morning,  upon 
worshipping  the  Father  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  John 
iv.23,24. — Afterwards  a  most  blessed  sacrament  with 
Messrs.  Joss  and  West.  O,  when  shall  we  enjoy  the 
like  liberty  at  Tabernacle  and  Tottenham!"  He  was 
much  in  the  habit  of  seizing  upon  and  spiritualizing 
the  circumstances  around  him,  of  which  we  have  an 
instance  in  the  following  entry  in  his  journal  : — 
"Lord's  day,  Tottenliam,  upon  the  Lord's  jwomise  of 
showers  of  blessings — it  was  a  very  rainy  morning." 
He  made  at  this  time  frequent  preaching  expeditions 
to  Richmond,  where  he  received  the  most  violent  op- 
position. The  first  date  of  his  going  there  this  year 
is  Friday,  January  27th.—"  Richmond.  He  icill  help 
the  feet  of  his  saints,  b^it  the  wicked  shall  be  silent 
in  darkness,  for,  ^"c,  1  Sam.  ii.— -Much  confusion." 
After  entering  in  his  diary  the  texts  of  every  day,  he 
remarks,  "Thursday  (February  3d)  dear  Mr.  Ber- 
ridge  came  to  town.  I  read  prayers  for  him;  he 
preached  most  gloriously."  "  Lord's  day,  February 
6th — Noon,  Richmond.     Expecting  much  persecu- 


AWFUL  EVENT  103 

tion  in  the  eve,  prepared  for  it  by  preaching  upon, 
These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you  that  ye  might 
have  peace ;  in  the  V)orld  ye  shall  have  tribulation; 
<^c.;  John  xiv.  33.  Afternoon,  went  to  church,  and 
heard  myself  vehemently  taken  to  task  by  the  parson. 
Eve,  contrary  to  all  expectation,  we  had  a  most  com- 
fortable and  tranqnil  time.  Unto  him  that  loved  us 
and  washed  \iis\  fnmi  our  sins  in  Ji  is  own  blood  ; 
Rev.  i.  5,  6.  Afterwards  a  .sacrament :  dear  Mr. 
West  assisted.  I  trust  the  Lord  was  with  ns — bless- 
ed be  God,  we  concluded  with  victory."  On  one  oc- 
casion an  attempt  had  been  made  to  persuade  him 
not  to  go  to  Richmond,  because  a  party  of  young  men 
had  hired  a  boat,  and  were  coming  down  the  river 
with  the  determination  to  draw  him  throuorh  the  wa- 
ter. His  feelings  may  be  conceived,  when  informed 
the  boat  was  upset,  and  that  the  poor  misguided  ene- 
mies of  his  ministry^  had  all  entered  into  the  presence 
of  their  Judge  in  another  world. 

The  next  scenes  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  labours 
were  Chatham  and  Sheerness  ;  and  on  his  return 
from  those  places  to  London  he  preached  "  The  Last 
Sermon  at  St.  Catharine's,  near  the  Tower,  upon  Job's 
repentance."  On  Sunday,  February  27th,  he  preach- 
ed at  the  Tabernacle,  and  on  Monday  he  says — "took 
my  leave  of  the  chapel  society. — Tuesday,  general 
sacrament.  At  chapel  Mr.  Joss  assisted  for  the  first 
time.  Blessed  be  God,  thousands  communicated  ;  it 
lasted  from  six  till  ten."  His  journal  proceeds. 
"  After  a  tedious  journey  arrived  safe  at  Rodborough 
on  Saturday,  March  5th.  Lord  help.  Lord's  day 
morn— Rodborough  :  a  very  tempestuous  day.  A 
man  shall  be  a  hiding  place  from  the  storm,  &c, : 
Isa.  xxxii.  2 — afterwards  a  sacrament.  Eve,  same 
place.  Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have  chosen 
you,  and  have  ordained  you,  dec. :  John  xv.  19 — a 
good  congregation,  but  a  dryish  time.  I  believe  good 
will  be  done  here.  My  Master  help."  We  have,  in 
his  first  text  mentioned  in  this  extract,  an  instance  of 


104  GLOUCESTER,  WILTSHIRE,  WALES. 

the  habit  not  long  ago  alluded  to.  He  goes  on, 
"  Monday,  March  7th,  Wotton.  The  believer  built 
upon  the  rock.  Tuesday,  Dursley.  The  Lord,  the 
strength,  fortress,  and  refuge  of  the  afflicted^^ — and 
the  next  Tuesday,  he  adds,  "  went  and  saw  my  dear 
sick  father."  On  his  return  he  went  to  Gloucester, 
and  preached  and  read  prayers  twice  at  the  hospital : 
•'  the  last  a  blessed  time,  but  O  poor  dead  Gloucester, 
how  few  think  it  worth  their  while  to  hear  !"  From 
Gloucester  he  returned  to  Wotton,  and  after  preach- 
ing there  and  in  the  neighbourhood,  he  made  a  tour 
through  Wiltshire,  at  the  end  of  which  he  observes, 
"blessed  be  God,  a  happy  journey  through  Wilt- 
shire." After  this  he  spent  a  short  time  at  Bristol,  and 
then  went  into  Wales.  While  at  Bristol,  one  entry 
in  his  diary  is,  "  Tuesday,  St.  Nicholas  ;  there  being 
a  violent  thunder-storm  at  that  time,  preached  upon, 
Aman  being  a  covert  from  the  storm :  Isa.  xxxii.  2." 
On  his  way  into  Wales  he  preached  at  "a  blessed 
consecration  of  an  old  barn  in  the  morning,  on  pre- 
paring  a  habitation  for  the  Lord!''  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  was  also  in  the  habit  of  speaking  frequently  in 
the  open  air,  making  what  he  called  "  his  field  cam- 
paigns," and  used  to  go  into  large  towns  on  the  mar- 
ket days,  and  address  assemblages  in  the  market- 
houses,  of  which  he  has  briefly  recorded  several  in- 
stances. When  he  heard  of  a  fair  or  a  revel,  he  would 
go  and  try  to  gain  a  hearing  in  spite  of  all  the  vio- 
lence with  which  he  was  constantly  assailed.  On 
such  occasions,  his  favourite  text  was,  Come  ye  out 
from  am,ong  them,  which  he  often  so  applied  to  the 
consciences  of  those  who  gathered  round  him,  that 
some,  convinced  of  the  evil  of  their  course,  would 
retire  home,  to  seek  in  penitential  prayer  the  Saviour 
to  whom  they  had  been  so  feelingly  invited.  Many, 
very  many,  were  the  instances  of  conversions  which 
attended,  on  such  opportunities,  his  solemn  warnings 
to  the  riotous  assemblies  congregated  at  these  scenes 
of  vice  and  iniquity. 


ANECDOTE  OF  HOWELL  HARRIS.  105 

•  Several  times  in  the  course  of  his  journey  througli 
Wales  this  year,  events  of  a  similar  description  oc- 
curred, which  greatly  encouraged  and  supf)orted 
him  under  an  attack  of  illness  ;  upon  which  he  re- 
marks, "  my  hody  quite  weak,  but  my  soul  was  re- 
freslied."  A  like  example  had  been  previously  before 
his  eyes  in  the  case  of  Howell  Harris,  one  of  Mr. 
Whitefield's  most  energetic  followers,  who  was  a  man 
of  extraordinary  powers  of  body  and  mind.  Harris 
used  to  relate  of  himself,  that  bein<r  once  on  a  jour- 
ney through  Wales,  he  was  subjected  to  great  tempta- 
tions to  desert  his  Master's  cause,  when  he  said  "  Sa- 
tan, I'll  match  thee  for  this" — and  "so  I  did,"  he  used 
to  add,  "  for  I  had  not  ridden  many  miles  before  I 
came  to  a  revel,  where  there  was  a  show  of  moun- 
tebanks, which  I  entered,  and  just  as  they  were  com- 
mencing, I  jumped  into  the  midst  of  them  and  cried 
out  '  let  us  pray,'  which  so  thunderstruck  them  that 
they  listened  to  me  quietly,  while  I  preached  them  a 
most  tremendous  sermon  that  frightened  many  of 
them  home."  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  greatly  delighted  in 
this  anecdote,  and  often  considered  that  amidst  some- 
what similar  scenes,  he  had  been  enabled  successfully 
to  assail  the  kingdom  of  Satan.  The  number  of 
sermons  he  preached  on  this  tour  in  Wales,  was  as- 
tonishing ;  at  least  three  and  sometimes  four  a  day, 
and  none  of  less  duration  than  an  hour.  The  Welsh 
people  followed  him  by  thousands  from  place  to 
place,  and  he  has  often  said  that  nothing  could  pre- 
vent their  attendance.  Many  a  time  has  he  stood 
during  a  shower  of  rain,  preaching  to  a  vast  con- 
course of  peasantry,  who  remained  as  unconcerned 
and  attentive  as  though  the  sky  had  been  without  a 
cloud.  He  often  used  to  mention  this  to  his  English 
hearers,  when  the  weather  had  kept  them  at  home 
on  the  sabbath.  "  If,"  he  would  say,  "you  loved  the 
gospel  as  the  Welsh  do,  you  would  not  mind  a  show- 
er." Nothing,  however,  made  him  so  angry  as  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  jumpers,  whom  he  called  the  cari- 


106  REMARKABLE  CONVERSIONS. 

caturists  of  religion.  Once,  moved  by  the  energy  of 
his  manner,  numbers  of  them  rose  in  the  chapel  and 
began  to  jump  ;  he  cried  aloud,  "  let  us  have  no 
more  of  this  mummery  and  nonsense."  Notwith- 
standing this  rebuke,  as  Mrs.  Hill  and  he  were  sitting 
together  in  the  inn,  two  men  asked  to  speak  to  him 
about  his  sermon  ;  but  on  entering  the  room  they 
began  to  jump  like  madmen.  "  If  you  will  have  such 
nonsense  you  may  have  it  to  yourselves,"  he  said 
quietly,  and  retired  till  the  jumpers  went  away.  He 
could  not  endure  any  thing  bordering  on  fanaticism ; 
"  this,"  he  used  to  say,  "  is  not  the  fine,  sublime,  gen- 
tle, yet  irresistible  work  of  the  Holy  Ghost  on  the 
soul,  making  us  not  fanatics  and  enthusiasts,  but 
new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus." 

Whilst  on  the  last  mentioned  expedition,  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  was  not  forgotten  by  his  London  friends. 
A  long  letter  from  captain  Joss,  which  reached  him 
whilst  travelling,  describes  the  condition  of  his  hear- 
ers in  the  metropolis  and  its  neighbourhood.  "  You 
ask,"  he  says,  "  if  I  can  tell  you  any  gospel  news  ? 
Yes,  my  dear  brother,  glory  be  to  our  dear  Emman- 
uel, his  word  runs  and  is  glorified.  You  have  need 
to  be  greatly  humbled  before  the  Lord ;  for  it  may 
be  said  m  truth  respecting  you  what  Gideon  said 
ironically  concerning  the  men  of  Ephraim,  Judges 
viii.  2 :  Is  not  the  gleaning  of  the  grapes  of 
Ephraim  better  than  the  vintage  of  Abiezer  ? 
Your  last  visit  has  been  remarkably  blest ;  many 
have  been  awakened,  several  of  which  have  joined 
the  society.  I  shall  mention  one  very  remarkable 
instance  which  came  to  my  knowledge  last  Saturday, 
from  the  person's  own  mouth.  A  young  lady  came 
to  hear  you  out  of  curiosity,  when  it  pleased  the 
Lord  to  call  her,  I  believe  savingly.  She  was  greatly 
persecuted  by  an  elder  brother,  who  was  head 
of  the  family,  as  the  mother  is  a  widow  ;  however, 
by  her  patience  and  conversation  she  was  made  the 
means  of  the  conversion  of  a  sister,  and  that  sister 


TREVECCA.  107 

of  another,  and  she  of  the  conversion  of  the  aged 
mother  ;  and  who  knows  but  the  IjOrd  may  save  the 
brother  also  ?  Thus  the  Lord  gives  them  you  by 
chisters  :  no  wonder  you  meet  with  so  much  ballast ; 
you  would  overset  without  it.  A  ship  that  is  built 
for  war,  requires  a  great  quantity  of  ballast  to 
counterpoise  her  metal  which  she  carries  upon  her 
upper  deck.  Things  at  Tabernacle  and  chapel* 
are  just  as  you  left  them,  only  I  have  not  been  at 
chapel  sacrament  since  the  first  time  with  you."' 

Towards  the  end  of  this  long  letter  the  worthy 
sailor  adds — •'  The  Lord  triumphs  at  Richmond,  and 
persecution  runs  high.  The  different  times  I  liove 
them,  we  have  been  stoned,  covered  with  dirt  out  of 
the  kennel,  (fcc.''  Little  do  we  know,  in  these  days 
of  tranquillity  and  peace,  what  these  zealous  revival- 
ists had  to  sutier  from  tlie  violence  of  mobs,  as  well 
as  from  the  contempt  of  men  of  the  world,  who  de- 
spised their  persons  and  avoided  their  society. 

In  the  course  of  this  summer's  tour,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  visited  and  preached  at  Lady  Huntingdons  col- 
lege at  Trevecca,  on  2  Cor.  xii.  10:  When  I  am 
iveaL%  then  I  am  strongs  a  text  he  was  very  fond  of, 
because  he  said,  no  "  one  but  a  Christian  could  un- 
derstand its  meaning  :"  in  proof  of  which  he  M'^ould 
add,  "  a  worldly  wise  divine  absolutely  said,  '  I  am 
sure  that  fellow  Whitefield  is  mad  now,  for  I  heard 
him  say  with  my  own  ears,  when  I  am  weak,  then  I 
am  Strang.''  O  how  certain  is  it,  that  none  can  com- 
prehend the  word  of  God,  but  by  the  aid  of  the  en- 
lightening influences  of  the  Holy  Ghost."'  It  was  at 
Trevecca  that  the  first  opposition  arose  to  the  decla- 
ration of  Wesley,  in  the  celebrated  conference  of  1775. 
Lady  Huntingdon  ordered  all  those  who  refiised  to 
disavow  the  doctrines  contained  in  its  minutes,t  rm- 

*  Tottenham-court  chapel  and  the  Tabernacle,  Moorfields. 

t  The  parts  of  these  minutes,  so  strongly  objected  to,  have  been 
often  published,  and,  therefore,  it  is  unnecessary  to  introduce  them 
a  t  length  here.  The  passages  which  were  most  condemined  as  tend- 


108  WESLEYAN  CONTROVERSY. 

mediately  to  leave  the  Welsh  college.  Mr.  Fletcher, 
the  superintendent,  being  called  upon  to  give  his 
sentiments  in  writing  on  these  points,  without  re- 
serve, admitted  that  the  wording  of  the  minutes  was 
unguarded  and  inexplicit ;  but  after  explaining  them 
in  his  own  way,  he  vindicated  and  approved  the 
doctrines  they  contained,  and  resigned  his  appoint- 
ment. Wesley's  next  conference  was  held  at  Bristol, 
where  his  adherents  were  met  by  a  sort  of  anti-coun- 
cil summoned  by  the  honourable  Walter  Shirley,  one 
of  Lady  Huntingdon's  chaplains,  Avho  manifested  a 
most  conciliatory  spirit  on  the  occasion.  In  this  he 
was  met  by  the  leader  of  the  Methodists,  who  ac- 
knowledged that  certain  expressions  in  the  minutes, 
which  gave  rise  to  the  dispute,  were  uuii^uarded  as  to 
working  for  salvation,  and  that  they  had  no  "  merit 
or  confidence  but  in  the  alone  merits  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  for  justification  or  salvation,  either  in 
life,  death,  or  the  day  of  judgment ;  and  though  no 
one  is  a  real  Christian  believer,  (and  consequently 
cannot  be  saved)  who  doth  not  good  works,  where 
there  is  time  and  opportunity,  yet  our  works  have  no 
part  in  meriting  or  purchasing  our  justification  either 
in  whole  or  in  part."  This  declaration  appeared  to 
satisfy  Wesley's  opponents,  and  the  meeting  was  con- 
ing to  support  the  doctrine  of  salvation  by  works,  were  these — 
"We  said,  in  1774, '  we  have  leaned  too  much  towards  Calvinism.' 
Wherein  1 

"1.  With  regard  to  Tiian's  faithfulness.  Our  Lord  himself 
taught  us  to  use  the  expression,  and  we  ought  never  to  be  ashamed 
of  it.  We  ought  steadily  to  assert,  on  his  authority,  that  if  a  man 
is  not  '  faithful  in  the  imrighteous  mammon,'  God  Avill  not  give 
him  the  true  riches. 

,"  2.  With  regard  to  working  for  life.  This  also  our  Lord  has 
expressly  commanded  us.  Labour,  ipya^cade,  literally,  '  work  for 
the  meat  that  endiireth  to  everlasting  life.'  And  in  fact,  every 
believer  till  he  comes  to  glory,  works  for,  as  well  a^  from,  life. 

"  3.  We  have  received  it  as  a  maxim,  that '  a  man  is  to  do 
nothing  in  order  to  justification.'  Nothing  can  be  more  false. 
Whoever  desires  to  find  favour  with  God,  should  '  cease  to  do 
evil,  and  learn  to  do  well.'  Whoever  repents,  should  '  do  works 
meet  for  repentance.'  And  if  this  is  not  in  order  to  find  favour, 
what  does  he  do  them  for  V 


BLAMEABLE  St>IRI'i'.  109 

eluded  with  prayer  and  mutual  professions  of  bro- 
therly love.  The  result  also  of  the  conference  was 
made  known  to  the  world. 

This  calm  unhappily  lasted  but  a  short  time  :  the 
old  question  was  raised  ajjain,  and  the  dispute  was  car^ 
jied  on  with  more  violence  than  ever.  Numerous 
pamphlets  were  published  on  both  sides,  and  to  the 
arguments  contained  in  them  were  added  the  keen- 
est ridicule  and  the  strongest  possible  invective.  Mr. 
Richard  Hill  wrote  a  great  deal  upon  the  subject ; 
and  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  with  Messrs.  Toplady,  Ber- 
ridge,  and  Hcrvey,  entered  into  the  same  arena. 
The  titles  of  some  of  these  productions  were  singular 
enough,  Farrasy-o  double  distilled — An  old  fox  tar- 
red and  feathered^  alluding  to  Wesley — Poj^e  John 
— Logica  Genevensis — The  finisJung  stroke,  and 
others  of  the  same  character ;  and  it  is  but  justice  to 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  remark  that  in  his  maturer  age, 
though  he  still  retained  his  views  as  to  the  doctrines 
he  opposed,  he  lamented  that  the  controversy  had 
not  been  carried  on  in  a  different  spirit.  It  has  been 
often  asserted,  that  the  pamphlets  and  other  publica- 
tions on  the  part  of  Wesley  and  his  followers,  were 
models  of  temper  and  forbearance,  while  those  writ^ 
ten  by  the  Hills  and  their  adherents  abounded  in 
invective  and  abuse.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  shall  here 
speak  for  himself  He  excused  his  severity  of  ex- 
pression by  a  quotation  from  Cicero — "  ut  ad  iiren- 
dum  et  secandum  medici,  sic  nos  ad  hoc  genus 
castigandi  raro  invitique  veniamus,  nee  unquam  nisi 
necessario  si  nulla  reperietur  alia  medicina."  This 
"was  the  motto  of  a  pamphlet  in  which  he  says,  "  how- 
eyer  I  may  lament  the  many  harsh  terms  that  made 
their  appearance  in  the  last  pamphlet,  yet  I  think 
Mr.  J.  Wesley  has  but  very  little  reason  to  complain, 
when  we  review  the  following  specimen  of  some  of 
the  mild  epithets  which  these  two  meek  and  loving 
gentlemen,  Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  have 
•conjointly  given  to  the  Calvinists : — deviVs  factors— 
10 


110  BLAMEABLE  SPIRIT. 

Salmi's  synagogues — children  of  the  old  roaring 
hellish  murderer  who  believe  his  lie — advocates  for 
sin — witnesses  for  the  father  of  lies — blasphemers — 
Satan-seiit  preachers — devils — liars — fends.  These 
terms  are  taken  out  of  different  poems  composed  by 
those  gentlemen,  all  of  which,  if  I  greatly  mistake 
not,  are  still  upon  sale."  Wesley's  biographer,  Wat- 
son, a  great  and  good  man,  surely  was  not  aware 
of  these  expressions  when  he  called  the  publications 
of  liis  party  "  models  of  temper,  and  calm  but  occa- 
sionally powerfully  reproving."  These  epithets  ta- 
ken from  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  work  would  never  have 
been  introduced  here,  but  that  it  has  been  very  often 
insinuated  that  the  acid  was  all  on  one  side.  Can 
any  thing  justify  Wesley  in  setting  forth  an  analysis 
of  Toplady's  Treatise  on  Predestination  in  these 
words  ? — "  The  sum  of  all  this  : — one  in  twenty 
(suppose)  of  mankind  are  elected  ;  nineteen  in  twenty 
are  reprobated.  The  elect  shall  be  saved,  do  what 
they  will ;  the  reprobate  shall  be  damned,  do  what 
they  can.  Reader,  believe  this,  or  be  damned.  Wit- 
ness my  hand  A.  T." — Certain  it  is  that  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  and  his  friends  never  held  doctrine  such 
as  this  ;  never  did  persons  more  freely  invite  all  to 
come  to  Christ,  nor  have  any  preachers,  since  the 
days  of  the  Apostles,  been  more  practical  in  their 
doctrines  or  holier  in  their  lives.  Mr.  Hill  passed 
through  a  life  extended  to  almost  eighty-nine  years, 
withoitt  a  speck  to  stain  his  moral  character ;  in 
this  respect  his  sun  careered  in  a  cloudless  sky,  and 
sunk  in  celestial  brightness  into  a  world  of  glory. 
It  is  only  to  be  lamented  that  the  combatants  did 
not  meet  uistead  of  loriting.  They  were  inflamed 
by  constant  misrepresentations  which  lost  nothing 
in  passing  from  one  to  another.  When  they  did 
meet,  their  mutual  religion  generally  awakened  a 
common  love  towards  each  other.  When  Toplady 
saw  Olivers,  one  of  his  most  acute  opponents,  whom 
he  had  ridiculed  in  verse  and  attacked  in  prose,  all  his 


MR.   ROWLAND  HILLS  CANDOUR.  Ill 

anger  seemed  to  cease.  "  To  say  the  tmth,"  he  writes, 
"I  am  glad  I  saw  Mr.  Olivers,  for  he  appears  to  be  a 
person  of  stronger  sense  and  better  behaviour  than  I 
had  imagined."  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  with  admirable 
candour,  says  of  his  own  writings  "  a  softer  style  and 
spirit  would  better  have  become  me  ;"  and  liiis  would 
have  undoubtedly  been  the  case  had  they  met  and 
conversed.  Mr.  Hill  also  wrote  to  London  and  Bris- 
tol to  forbid  the  sale  of  one  of  his  severest  publica- 
tions, part  of  which,  addressed  privately  to  a  friend, 
had  been  printed  without  his  consent: — "Thus,"  says 
he  "  have  1  done  my  utmost  to  prevent  the  evil  that 
might  arise  from  any  wrong  touclies  of  the  arkof  God." 

It  is  impossible  not  to  notice  in  the  Life  of  Mr. 
RoM'land  Hill,  a  controversy  in  which  both  he  and  his 
brother  Richard  appeared  so  prominent ;  and  the  quo- 
tations given  from  his  own  writings  will,  it  is  trusted, 
prove  that  he  had  the  candour  to  censure  the  spirit  in 
which,  heated  by  polemical  excitement,  he  had  written 
upon  such  mysterious  and  hallowed  subjects.  The 
cause  was  the  Lord's;  but  the  armour  in  which  both 
parties  came  into  the  field  was  not  selected  from  the 
panoply  of  hght.  They  therefore  turned  their  wea- 
pons against  each  other,  and  forgot,  for  a  period,  the 
effect  of  such  a  spectacle  on  the  enemies  of  their 
common  salvation.  Let  the  case  be  fairly  stated,  the 
faults  on  both  sides  be  acknowledged,  and  may  the 
remembrance  of  them  serve  as  a  warning  to  those 
who  treat  upon  religious  differences.  Let  us  give 
credit  to  both  parties  for  integrity  of  principle  ;  and 
let  Calvinist  and  Arminian  join  in  one  common  ac- 
knowledgment, that  they  never  should  have  sought 
God  by  nature,  had  he  not  first  sought  them  by 
grace ;  that  the  only  way  to  eternal  life  is  through  the 
all-sufficient  atonement  of  a  dying  Saviour ;  and 
the  only  evidence  of  our  interest  in  his  blood,  a  heart 
sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  and  a  life  dedicated  to  his 
glory. 

From  Trevecca,  where  we  left  him  to  make  this 


112  WOTTON. 

digression,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  returned  to  Wotton, 
after,  "in  some  measure,  a  happy  ramble  through 
Wales,"  and  immediately  visited,  day  after  day,  all 
the  scenes  of  his  former  labours  in  Gloucestershire. 
There  he  had  erected  his  house  and  a  chapel,  call- 
ed the  Tahernade,  in  one  of  the  most  romantic  situ- 
ations that  can  be  conceived,  and  very  suitable  to 
the  complexion  of  a  mind  exceedingly  alive  to  the 
picturesque  beauties  of  nature.  The  celebrated  Ro- 
bert Hall  once  paid  him  a  visit  at  Wotton,  and  said 
of  it — "  Sir,  it  is  the  most  paradisaical  spot  I  was 
ever  in."  Strong  as  was  the  expression,  he  did  not 
say  too  much.  Opposite  the  house  is  the  most  per- 
fect amphitheatre  of  hill,  three  parts  of  which  is 
clothed  with  a  hanging  wood,  of  exquisite  variety  of 
foliage,  enclosing  a  dale  of  the  richest  fertility. 
The  summit  of  a  hill  on  the  left  of  the  house  com- 
mands a  landscape  on  which  nature  has  lavished  her 
choicest  attractions.  The  Welsh  Mountains,  the  Mal- 
vern Hills,  the  rich  vale  of  Berkley,  the  broad  course 
of  the  silvery  and  majestic  Severn,  and  a  foreground 
of  grassy  knolls  and  hanging  woods,  form  the  princi- 
pal features  of  a  scene  in  which  all  are  blended  in  the 
loveliest  harmony  and  proportions.  In  front  of  the 
house,  a  rocky  path  winding  through  a  sloping  wood 
of  beech,  breaks  it  with  its  white  and  narrow  streaks 
into  clusters  of  great  beauty  and  variety.  On  the  sab- 
bath this  road  teemed  with  human  beings,  coming 
from  the  lovely  glens  around,  to  hear  the  word  of  life 
from  the  lips  of  their  beloved  minister.  About  half 
an  hour  before  service,  he  might  be  seen  watching 
through  a  telescope  his  approaching  flock,  as  they  de- 
scended into  the  valley,  and  making  his  remarks  to 
those  near  him  on  the  seriousness  or  levity  of  their 
manner.  Sometimes  he  gave  a  hint  of  the  latter  in 
his  sermon,  and  they  who  were  conscious  of  its  ap- 
plication wondered  how  ho  knew  it.  Some  of  them 
used  to  say,  "  we  must  mind  what  we  do,  for  Master 
Hill  knows  every  thing,  bless  him." 


VARIED  SCENES  OF  LABOUR.  113 

But  to  resume  the  narrative.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
went  from  Wotton  to  Bristol  and  Bath,  where  he  was 
followed  by  congregations  "  larger  than  ever."  "After 
three  years'  absence"  he  visited  Devizes,  and  returned 
to  Bristol,  where  he  preached  to  great  multitudes,  both 
in  places  of  worship  and  "  out  of  doors."  In  his 
journey  to  London  he  passed  through  Worcester, 
Gloucester,  and  Birmingham,  where  he  met  with  such 
a  reception  as  gave  him  "  much  cause  for  thankful-  i 
ncss  and  joy."  His  route  was  very  circuitous,  and 
extended  to  the  potteries  in  Staffordshire.  Ho  spent 
also  a  short  time  at  Coventry  and  Northampton,  and 
was  much  encouraged  by  his  affectionate  reception 
and  the  crowds  who  flocked  to  hear  him.  Preaching 
all  the  way  as  lie  journeyed,  he  at  length  reached  Lon- 
don on  the  sixth  of  August.  Here  ho  at  once  resum- 
ed his  labours,  as  appears  from  his  journal.  "London, 
Lord's-day  morn,  August  7th :  an  excellent  sacra- 
ment at  the  Tabernacle.  Afterwards  preached  in  the 
same  place  to  an  overflowing  congregation :  Behold  I 
set  before  thee  an  opeii  door.  Eve,  to  a  vast  multitude 
in  White  Conduit  Fields:  Father  forgive  them  for 
they  knoxD  not  wJiat  they  do  ;"  evidently  in  allusion  to 
the  opposition  he  met  with.  Not  a  day  followed 
without  a  sermon ,  and  on  the  Monday  week  after  the 
last  date,  he  preached  at  "  Whetstone,  on  Christ's 
name  being  as  ointment  poured  forth.  Afterwards,  a 
primitive  feast,  made  sweet  by  prayer,  singing,  and  ex- 
hortation. Afterwards  expounded  part  of  the  1st  of 
Solomon's  Song  in  the  field.  Tuesday,  intended  to 
have  preached  in  London  Fields.  Prevented  by  rain ; 
met  society  in  the  Tabernacle."  The  scenes  of  his  mi- 
nistry at  this  time  were  places  of  all  kinds  ;  churches, 
chapels,  fields,  gardens,  the  streets — in  short,  every- 
where that  he  could  obtain  a  hearing,  every  day  of  his 
life,  and  with  great  effect.  One  entry  in  his  little  diary 
at  this  time  is — "Saturday,  met  society,  and  gave  a 
general  exhortation.  Many  this  eve  came  to  me  under 
soul  concern.  Blessed  be  God,  the  work  of  grace 
10* 


114         DEATH  OF  MR.  POWYS.     LORD  BARHAM. 

Still  is  carried  on  upon  the  hearts  of  many."  On 
"  Lord's-day,  September  11th,"  he  "•concluded  in  Lon- 
don. Morn,  chapel,  on  the  great  mountain,  a  plain 
before  Zerubbabel.  Eve,  Tabernacle :  Thine,  O  Lord, 
is  the  greatness,  and  the  -power,  and  the  glory,  and  the 
victory,  and  the  majesty,  for  all  that  is  in  the  heaven 
and  the  earth  is  thine;  thine  is  the  king do<m,0  Lord, 
and  thou  art  exalted  head  above  all :  I  Chron.  xxix. 
11.  On  the  same  day  £2U0  was  collected  for  the  pub- 
lic cause  of  Christ.  The  congregations  in  London 
continue  as  large  if  not  larger  than  ever.  A  di- 
vine power  in  general  went  with  the  word.  Most 
enlarged  this  time  at  Tottenham,  and  in  the  churches." 
From  London  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  went  into  Glou- 
cestershire, where  he  seems,  from  his  diary,  scarcely 
to  have  missed  preaching  a  single  day  till  his  return 
t-o  London  in  December,  where  he  concluded  the 
labours  of  the  year. 

During  the  year  1774,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  his  friend,  Mr.  Powys,  of  Berwick, 
whose  death  he  felt  very  severely ;  the  more  so  as 
there  were  but  very  few,  in  his  own  sphere  of  life, 
who  appreciated  his  views  of  religion  or  approved 
his  zeal.  There  was,  however,  one  individual  in 
particular,  for  whom  he  cherished  the  sincerest  affec- 
tion and  regard.  This  was  the  excellent  Sir  Charles 
Middleton,  afterwards  well  kno^vn  as  Lord  Barham, 
whose  management  of  the  navy  when  first  lord  of 
the  admiralty,  in  times  of  unequalled  difficulty,  will 
ever  be  mentioned  to  his  honour  in  the  pages  of 
British  history.  His  wise  and  prompt  services  were 
coimnended  in  the  highest  terms  by  Lord  Nelson ; 
and  the  navy  of  England  reached  the  acme  of  im- 
mortal fame,  when  a  man,  ridiculed  as  a  saint  and  a 
methodist,  presided  over  its  affairs.  Let  this  for  ever 
silence  those  who  assert  that  religion  incapacitatejj 
for  the  uses  of  this  life.  But  another  point  deserves 
to  be  mentioned.  Lord  Barham  permitted  no  Sun- 
day labours  in  the  dock-yards ;  yet  he  managed  to. 


1775.       LOVE  FEASTS.       SAILORS.  115 

comply  with  the  urgent  and  rapid  demands  of  the 
hero  of  the  deep,  whose  circumstances  and  uncom- 
mon movements  required  no  ordinary  energy  in  the 
supply  of  his  resources.  Neither  nations  nor  indi- 
viduals will  ever  lose  by  the  entire  dedication  of  that 
sacred  day,  to  the  worship  of  a  God  who  prospers 
those  who  serve  him,  and  obey  his  commandments. 
When  Lord  Barham  retired,  in  a  good  old  age,  to 
his  seat  in  Kent,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  paid  him  an  an- 
nual visit.  The  affectionate  and  venerable  old  man 
often  came  to  the  door  to  welcome  his  arrival ;  and 
Mr.  Hill  used  to  say,  nothing  cheered  him  more  "than 
to  see  the  silvery  locks  and  heavenly  smiles  of  the 
good  old  lord,"  as  he  stood  to  receive  him  under  the 
portico  of  the  house  at  Barham  court.  No  visit 
afforded  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  more  pleasure  than  this : 
they  had  known  each  other  when  they  first  set  out 
in  the  paths  of  religion,  and  were  drawing  to  the 
close  of  their  pilgrimage,  rejoicing  in  the  light  that 
had  led  them  all  the  way. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  commenced  the  year  1775  at 
Woburn.  His  first  sermon  in  London  was  in  Alders- 
gate  church.  He  was  very  regular  in  his  attendance 
at  the  meetings  of  the  society  and  classes  at  the  Ta- 
bernacle. He  also  attended  some  "  Love  Feasts,'" 
which  seem  to  have  afforded  him  no  great  satisfaction, 
for  he  remarks  on  the  first  meeting  of  the  kind  this 
year,  "  Wednesday,  a  love  feast  at  the  Tabernacle  ; 
tolerable  for  a  love  feast."  In  the  month  of  Febru- 
ary he  went  to  Brighton,  where  he  spent  about  a 
fortnight  in  diligent  preaching,  and  in  gathering  and 
forming  societies  of  Christians.  He  then  paid  a  visit 
to  Portsmouth,  which  occupied  him  till  the  end  of  the 
month.  He  had  the  greatest  pleasure  in  labouring 
amongst  sailors,  and  generally  found  his  way  to  their 
hearts  and  affections.  Many  a  sturdy  tar  that  de- 
nounced his  opening  address  with  an  oath,  before 
the  close  of  his  solemn  appeal  had  melted  into  tears ; 
and  often  did  they  fill  the  eye  and  drop  down  the 


116  ANECDOTE. 

rough  cheek  of  some  veteran,  who,  till  touched  with 
a  recital  of  the  Saviour's  love  and  sufferings, 
seemed  as  hard  and  sapless  as  the  oak  which  bore 
him  on  the  bosom  of  that  ocean,  where,  without  a 
thought  of  judgment  or  eternity,  he  had  sternly  pe- 
rilled his  life  in  the  service  of  his  country.  Frequent- 
ly did  Mr.  Hill  experience  the  no  very  gentle  grasp  of 
some  sailor's  hand  who  had  been  brought  to  a  know- 
ledge of  the  way  of  life  by  a  sermon  he  had  come  to 
sneer  at  and  oppose.  Of  his  visits  to  seaports  he  used 
to  say,  "  I  was  most  affected  by  those  who  came  about 
me,  and  told  me  in  tears  that  I  had  led  them  to  Christ 
last  time  I  was  there  ;  this  always  touches  me." 
When  they  abused,  pelted,  and  threatened  him,  he 
stood  calm  and  unmoved;  his  countenance,  capable 
of  almost  every  expression,  never  assumed  that  of 
fear  ;  but  as  soon  as  ever  a  person  told  him,  in  a  way 
that  removed  all  suspicion,  of  his  having  been  the 
means  of  bringing  him  to  God,  he  could  never  sup- 
press his  emotion.  His  courage,  at  all  times  remark- 
able, often  awed  his  most  violent  opposers,  and  on  one 
occasion  frightened  away  two  or  three  highwaymen, 
which  probably  gave  rise  to  the  foolish  story  of  his 
taking  a  robber  into  his  service.  He  was  riding  in  a 
phaeton  somewhere  near  London,  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Hill,  when  they  were  attacked  in  the  dark  by 
either  two  or  three  men,  who  violently  demanded 
their  money.  They  had  a  few  minutes  previously 
made  a  successful  attack  upon  a  Mr.  Wliitefoot,  his 
assistant,  who  preceded  them  in  a  gig.  When  they 
came  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  and  he  used  to  laugh 
heartily,  as  he  told  the  story,  he  set  up  such  a  tremens 
dous  unearthly  shout,  that  one  of  them  cried  out,  "we 
have  stopped  the  devil  by  mistake,  and  had  better  be 
off" — -on  which  they  ran  away  and  left  Mr.  Hill  and 
his  lady  in  peaceable  possession  of  the  road.  He  used 
to  say,  "I  stood  up  in  the  carriage  and  made  all  the 
outrageous  noises  I  could  think  of,  which  frightened 
thefellowsoutof  their  wits,  and  away  they  scampered." 


A  NOTICE  FROM  THE  PULPIT.  117 

During  this  year  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  preached  at 
many  places  in  Kent  without  much  opposition,  but 
had  to  encounter  a  desperate  tumult,  raised  by  a  rab- 
ble in  the  street,  at  Maidstone.  He  briefly  notices 
it—"  Thursday  (March  24th)  Maidstone— i/i^ /a??,  is 
in  his  hand,  he  ttill  tho?'oifg-hlt/  fnin^e  his  floor. 
Some  persecution,  people  still  within,  hut  in  a  tumult 
without — in  tumults  oftenP  At  Chatham  his  recep- 
tion was  quite  the  reverse  of  this,  sx)  that  he  remarks, 
"  uncommon  sweetness  at  Chatham."  As  his  engage  • 
ments  multipled,  he  grew  weary  of  keeping  a  regular 
diary  of  his  preaching,  and  says  in  one  place — '-from 
hence  to  my  departure  from  London  omitted  to  put 
down  in  order."  After  merely  mentioning,  as  far  as 
he  could  recollect  the  texts  he  had  preached  upon,  he 
adds,  "  Wednesday,  April  19,  1775,  after  a  long  stay 
in  and  about  London  of  four  months,  after  some  bless- 
ings, and  many  humblings,  set  out  for  Gloucester- 
shire, reaching  Reading  on  that  evening,  preached 
in  the  Independent  meeting,  Unto  him  that  hath 
loved  us,  cj'c. — Thursday,  Newbury,  in  the  meeting 
house,  on  being  perfect  through  Christ's  comeliness 
put  upon  us." 

On  Saturday,  April  22d,  he  reached  Wotton, 
and  remained  there  till  June  24th,  preaching  almost 
daily. 

His  retirement  into  the  country  was  no  repose  to 
him  ;  he  preached  as  often  there  as  in  London.  On 
a  Sunday  after  the  service  of  his  chapel  at  Wotton  he 
would  give  out  such  a  notice  as  this  : 

"  To-morrow  evening  meet  the  society." — "  Any 
body  here  from  Nibley  ?" — (a  nod  of  assent)  "  Tell 
them  I  shall  preach  there  Tuesday — -Wediiesday, 
preach  here — Thursday,  Wickwar — Friday,  Uley — 
Saturday,  must  hav«  some  rest — Sunday  here  again, 
God  willing."  After  thisnotice,henotunfrequentlyfor- 
got  the  places  where  he  intended  to  go,  when  Mrs.  Hill's 
accuracy  was  of  no  slight  service  in  aiding  his  me- 
mory.    He  often  said  at  breakfast,  "  where  am  I  to 


118  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  GARDENER. 

preach  to-day  ?" — and  fortunate  it  was  for  himself 
and  the  people,  that  she  had  not  forgotten  the  detail 
of  his  arrangements. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  great  reason  to  rejoice  in 
the  consistent  lives  and  zealous  devotion  to  God  of 
many  of  his  converts  at  Wotton.  There  was  amongst 
them  a  person  named  Rugg,  of  a  piety  so  deep,  and 
of  a  life  so  usefiil  and  unblemished,  that  even  his 
enemies  admired  and  were  awed  by  his  character. 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  used  to  say  of  him,  that  he  was 
one  of  the  most  complete  Christians  he  ever  met  with. 
He  has  been,  however,  mentioned  here,  because  he 
was  connected  with  an  extraordinary  fact,  illustrative 
of  God's  care  of  his  own  people.  Mr.  Hill's  gardener, 
at  Wotton,  who  had  always  passed  for  an  honest 
quiet  sort  of  man,  was  at  length  discovered  to  have 
been  the  perpetrator  of  several  burglaries,  and  other 
daring  robberies  in  the  neighbourhood,  though  he 
had,  till  caught  in  the  fact,  never  been  even  sus- 
pected. He  was  tried  at  Gloucester,  condemned,  and 
executed.  It  need  scarcely  be  said,  that  his  master 
visited  him  in  jail.  During  his  interviews  with  him 
there,  he  confessed  the  many  crimes  of  which  he  had 
been  guilty.  "  How  was  it,  William,"  he  inquired, 
"  that  you  never  robbed  me,  when  you  have  had  such 
abundant  opportunity  ?"  "  Sir,"  replied  he,  "  do  you 
recollect  the  juniper  bush  on  the  border  against  the 
dining-room  ? — I  have  many  times  hid  under  it  at 
night,  intending,  which  1  could  easily  have  done,  to 
get  into  the  house  and  plunder  it — but,  Sir,  I  was 
afraid ;  something  said  to  me,  he  is  a  man  of  God,  it 
is  a  house  of  prayer — if  I  break  in  there  I  shall  sure- 
ly be  found  out — so  I  never  could  pluck  up  courage 
to  attempt  it."  In  another  conversation  he  told  him, 
"  Sir,  I  well  knew  that  old  Mr.  Rugg  was  in  the  habit 
of  carrying  a  deal  of  money  in  his  pocket ;  times  and 
times  have  I  hid  behind  the  hedge  of  the  lane  lead- 
ing to  his  house — he  has  passed  within  a  yard  of  me, 
when  going  home  from  the  prayer  meeting,  again 


MR.  hill's  unwearied  DILIGENCE.  119 

and  again — I  could  not  stir — I  durst  not  touch  so 
holy  a  man.  I  was  afraid.  I  always  began  trembling 
as  soon  as  he  came  near  me,  and  gave  up  the  thought 
altogether,  for  I  knew  he  was  a  holy  man."  Tliis  is 
a  fact  which  well  assures  us  that  God  our  sun  is  a 
shield  too. 

In  the  year  1775,  orchards,  commons,  gardens, 
churches,  chapels,  woods,  hills  and  dales,  were  the 
varied  scenes  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  daily  exertions. 
Every  now  and  then  there  appears  also  an  entry  in 
liis  diary,  of  a  sermon  at  Kingston,  his  curacy,  but 
there  is  no  record  of  tlie  time  when  he  finally  left  it. 
He  made  this  year  a  tour  through  great  part  of  De- 
vonshire, where  his  ministry  produced  a  most  power- 
ful effect,  and  he  spent  a  whole  fortnight  in  gTeat 
activity  at  Plymouth.  Thence  he  proceeded  to 
Launceston,  and  preached  in  the  town  hall,  and,  to 
use  his  own  words,  "  Saturday,  (no  date,  but  it  was 
in  July)  reached  Bideford — the  dissenting  minister 
refused  the  pulpit  before  I  asked  for  it — expounded 
thrice,  and  preached  in  the  market-place."  Here,  he 
says,  "  God's  word  ran,  and  was  glorified."  On  his 
return  from  this  tour  he  remained  at  Wotton,  till 
August  21st,  when  he  set  ofi'  for  London,  preaching 
every  day  on  his  journey.  On  his  arrival  in  the 
metropolis,  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  experience  no 
diminution  either  in  the  number  or  the  affection  of 
his  followers. 


120  REMARKABLE  CONVERSIONS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

REMARKABLE    CONVERSIONS. 

During  his  residence  in  London,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  not  only  preached  in  various  places  of  worship, 
but  expounded  in  families.  He  was  in  the  habit  of 
going  occasionally  for  this  purpose,  to  the  house  of 
Lord  Robert  Manners,  between  whose  accomplished 
lady  and  Mrs.  Hill  there  existed  a  long  and  sincere 
friendship. 

He  received,  while  in  the  metropolis  in  the  year 
1775,  the  usual  tidings  of  the  success  of  his  itine- 
rancy. On  one  of  the  letters  conveying  this  infor- 
mation is  written,  "good  news  from  Eideford,"  in 
allusion  to  an  account  which  it  contains  of  the  re- 
markable conversion  of  an  individual  who  had  been 
a  notorious  opposer  of  the  truth.  "  Indeed,  sir,"  says 
his  correspondent,  "  there  seems  to  be  a  lasting  im- 
pression left  on  the  minds  of  many  ;  and  as  for  Mr. 

,  the  man   I  before  mentioned,  it  does  my  soul 

good  to  converse  with  him ;  and  the  order  of  his 
house  is  turned  upside  down,  from  a  prayerless 
family  to  a  praying  one."  From  Northampton  Mr. 
Ryland,  junior,  sent  him,  in  a  long  letter,  a  list  of 
persons  converted  under  liis  ministry  in  that  place, 
during  three  visits,  with  remarks  on  their  cases  and 
progress  in  religion.  These  were  very  encouraging, 
and  were  some  of  them  instances  of  the  power  of  God 
in  rescuing,  by  the  instrumentality  of  his  word,  even 
those  who  appeared  to  be  buried  in  the  most  Jiopeless 
depths  of  ignorance  and  sin.  Mr.  Ryland  concludes 
by  observing,  "  upon  the  whole,  my  dearest  sir,  I 
think  you  and  we  have  vast  reason  to  be  thankful 


SOCIETAS  EVANGELICA.     PENITENTS.  121 

that  God  blessed  you  so  gloriously  among  us :  and  I 
hope  the  Lord  will  make  it  a  mean  of  endearing  North- 
ampton to  you,  and  of  inducing  you  to  visit  usoftener.'* 
During  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  divided  his  time  between  London  and  Bristol. 
He  left  the  latter  city  at  Christmas,  to  assist  in  forming 
in  London  a  society  calked  "  Socictas  Evangelical''' 
whose  object  was  to  aid  settled  ministers  in  itinerating 
in  their  immediate  districts.  No  other  particular  event 
seems  to  have  occurred  to  him  at  this  time  :  he  pur- 
sued a  regular  course  of  daily  preaching  and  labour- 
ing in  his  Master's  cause,  and  opposition  seemed 
gradually  to  decrease.  He  even  received  letters  ac- 
knowledging the  deep  concern  of  the  writers  at  having 
harboured  an  unkind  thought  of  his  motives,  or  used 
an  opprobrious  expression  towards  his  person.  One- 
of  them  says — "I  most  ardently,  most  zealously,  most 
sincerely  ask  your  pardon  for  the  many  unknown  of- 
fences towards  you,  for  the  opprobrious  and  scurrilous 
language,  for  the  most  bitter  invectives  with  wliich  I 
have  treated  your  name  and  person,  and  for  the  trou- 
ble I  give  you  in  this  my  prolix  epistle  ;  and  likewise 
beg  of  you,  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  to 
offer  up  your  prayers  for  me,  if  you  can  possibly  think 
me  worthy ;  and  in  requital  for  so  great  a  blessing, 
you  shall  possess  mine,  not  only  with  my  lips,  but 
with  my  heart."  Notices  also  were  perpetually  placed 
in  his  hands  as  he  was  entering  the  pulpit,  containing 
similar  penitent  acknowledgments,  and  desiring  that 
public  confession  might  be  made  to  that  effect.  There 
were  also  often  given  him^  just  as  he  was  preparing  to 
preach,  slips  of  paper,  containing  instances  of  conver- 
sions and  of  awful  judgments,  that  he  might  make 
allusion  to  them  in  his  sermons.  Several  of  these 
were  preserved  by  Mr.  Hill,  and  were  labelled  "  noti- 
ces given  me  in  the  pulpit."  The  following  is  one 
of  them : — "  Dear  sir,  for  your  encouragement  I  send 
you  this,  not  to  exalt  you,  but  to  lay  you  low  at  the 
feet  of  Christ  Jesus.  A  man  of  a  small  fortune  mar- 
11 


122  NOTICES  IN  THE  PULPIT. 

ried  a  young  woman  with  a  little  money.  In  a  few 
years,  through  their  extravagance,  they  spent  all  they 
had,  which  drove  him  to  such  ways  which  made  him 
a  terror  to  his  wife  and  father-in-law,  the  latter  of 
which  he  was  determined  to  murder,  and  he  set  out 
last  summer  on  a  Sunday  with  a  full  determination  to 
do  it.  Agoing  across  White  Conduit  Fields  while  you 
were  preaching,  he  stopped  to  hear  you,  and  the  Lord 
pleased  to  set  the  word  home  with  power,  and  it  en- 
tered into  his  very  soul,  and  the  lion  became  a  lamb 
from  that  very  moment.  The  Lord  showed  him  what 
a  devil  he  was ;  so  that  his  heart  of  stone  became  a 
heart  of  flesh,  and  he  is  now  become  the  best  of  hus- 
bands, the  best  of  fathers,  and  the  best  of  sons-in-law ; 
and  as  he  was  a  terror  to  the  neighbourhood,  he  is 
now  become  a  wonder  to  all,  and  his  father-in-law  says 
he  must  be  «?i  a  trance.  I  only  send  you  this  account, 
which  you  may  indeed  depend  upon,  and  may  the  Lord 
encourage  you  still  to  go  on — Amen.  Be  clothed 
with  humility."  When  these  notices  were  given  him 
he  used  generally  to  read  them  aloud  ;  and  once  an 
impudent  fellov/  placed  a  piece  of  paper  on  the  reading 
desk,  just  before  he  was  going  to  read  prayers.  He^ 
took  it,  and  began — "  The  prayers  of  this  congrega- 
tion are  desired — umph — for — umph — well,  I  suppose 
I  must  finish  what  I  have  begun— /or  the  Rev.  Row- 
land Hill-,  that  he-will  not  go  riding  about  in  his  car- 
riage on  a  Sunday .'"  This  would  have  disconcerted 
almost  any  other  man ;  but  he  looked  up  as  coolly 
as  possible  and  said — "  If  the  writer  of  this  piece  of 
folly  and  impertinence  is  in  the  congregation,  and  will 
go  into  the  vestry  after  service,  and  let  me  put  a  sad- 
dle on  his  back,  I  will  ride  him  home  instead  of  going 
in  my  carriage."*  He  then  went  on  with  the  service 
as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

New  year's  day,  1776,  found  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in 

♦  I  once  told  him  this  story,  and  asked  him  if  it  was  true — 
"  Aye,  that  it  is,"  he  said,  "  true  enough — you  know  I  could  not 
call  him  a  donkey  in  plain  terms  out  of  the  reading  desk." 


SIR  HARRY  TRELAWNY.  123 

London,  employed  in  the  foundation  of  the  society  last 
alluded  to.  In  February,  as  appears  from  an  extract  in 
his  brief  jour  nal,  he  left  London,  "  after,  upon  the  whole, 
seeing  the  happy  establishment  of  iSocietas  Evangeli- 
ca,  returned  about  the  beginning  of  f^ebpuary  to  Glou- 
cestershire ;  preached  at  Wotton  on  the  following  sub- 
jects." Here  follow  merely  his  texts,  without  any 
remarks.  After  labouring  with  his  usual  diligence  in 
Gloucestershire  for  a  short  time,  he  paid  a  visit  to  his 
family  at  Hawkstone,  to  which  he  makes  no  other 
allusion  than  this  :  "  During  my  stay  at  Hawkstone, 
preached  on  the  following  subjects — at  Weston,  before 
ray  father;  Thei/  that  despised  Muses'  law,  perished 
without  mercy,  ^"c.  Eve,  Moses  liftin<y-  up  the  ser- 
pent in  the  'wilderness"  He  remained  with  Sir  Row- 
land Hill  till  the  6th  of  May,  when  he  returned  to 
London,  preaching  daily  on  his  road.  Vast  crowds 
followed  him  every  where,  particularly  to  hear  him 
out  of  doors  at  Blackheath,  and  other  places  in  and 
near  the  metropolis. 

After  his  summer  labours  in  London,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  returned  to  Wotton,  where  he  remained  diligent 
as  usual,  till  September,  when  he  departed  on  a  long 
preaching  excursion  into  Wales,  and  returned  by  way 
of  Bristol.  While  at  Bristol,  he  made  a  journey  to 
Taunton  to  meet  Sir  Harry  Trelawny,  a  young  baro- 
net from  Oxford,  and  "  found  him,"  he  says,  "  to  all 
appearance,  a  most  amiable  and  devoted  ^'^outh." 
When  Sir  Harry  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of  religion 
does  not  appear  ;  but  it  is  certain  that  he  had  become 
a  very  zealous  and  active  itinerant  preacher,  which 
drew  down  upon  him  the  displeasure  of  the  heads  of 
his  college.  He  was  most  anxious  for  this  interview 
with  Mr.  Hill,  and  accompanied  him  to  Mr.  Tud- 
way's,  at  Wells,  where  they  had  much  conversation 
upon  the  subject  of  religion,  as  well  as  consultations 
on  the  means  of  promoting  its  revival.  Soon  after 
they  parted,  Sir  Harry  wrote  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  a  let- 
ter, which  will  illustrate  the  nature  of  their  inter- 


134  LE.TTER  OF  SIR  H.  TRELAWNY. 

course,  and  the  position  of  the  writer  with  regard  to 
Oxford. 

Bridshed,  Nov.  27,  1776. 
My  ever  and  very  dear  brother, 

I  am  this  evening,  through  the  rich,  free,  and  un- 
deserved mercy  of  our  triune  covenant  God,  arrived 
safe  at  home. 

Oh  !  my  dear  friend,  since  I  left  you  I  know  still 
more  how  I  loved  you.  I  seemed  as  if  I  had  not  my 
coat  on  when  I  rode  away  from  Wells.  I  have  not 
passed  waking  hour's,  I  believe,  without  reflecting 
upon  you,  and  that  not  without  desires  of  again  taldng 
sweet  counsel  with  you,  and  walldng  in  the  house  of 
God  as  friends. 

Indeed  I  love  you  so  much  that  I  have  been  afraid 
that  the  Lord  would  make  a  breach  between  us.  Oh  ! 
may  we  ever  unite  in  the  strictest  friendship  and  har- 
mony, looking  every  moment  unto  Jesus,  that  best 
of  all  friends,  as  the  supreme  object  of  our  love. 
Should  we  both  remain  till  March  on  this  side  the 
grave,  I  hope  to  attend  you  through  Cornwall,  and 
enjoy  much  comfort  in  your  company,  my  dear  bro- 
ther. 

"When  I  came  home,  I  found,  among  others,  a  let- 
ter from  Oxford,  from  the  sub-dean  of  our  college, 
in  which  I  am  genteelly  dismissed  from  that  society. 
After  having  said  many  things  on  the  subject,  and 
given  his  opinion  decisively  respecting  my  return,  he 
says  this — "  When  you  consider  all  this,  you  will  not 
be  surprised  at  my  expressing  my  most  earnest  wishes, 
both  for  your  own  sake,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  place, 
that  you  would  never  think  of  residing  m  Oxford 
again." 

Could  you  see  the  whole  letter,  you  would  see  still 
greater  reason  to  conclude  with  me  that  my  way  is 
made  clear,  and  that  Oxford  is  not  intended  to  be  my 
place  of  abode  as  an  academy.  Oh  !  for  a  more  in- 
timate fellowship  and  acquaintance  with  Jesus  Christ 


MISTAKES  OP  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  135 

the  Friend  and  the  Saviour.  God  grant  me  to  feel 
more  real  love  to  him,  and  more  ardent  desires  after 
him. 

Now,  dear,  dear  sir,  pray  for  me,  and  write  to  me 
when  you  have  leisure.  May  God  make  me  thank- 
ful for  my  acquaintance  with  you. 

I  am,  my  much,  very  much  beloved  brother,  your 
faithful,  sincere,  and  affectionate  friend  in  Jesus, 
HARRY  TRELAWNY. 

Please  to  remember  me  in  a  Christian  manner  to 
Mrs.  Hill,  and  all  friends.  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  long 
without  a  letter. 

Sir  Harry  Trelawny  was  at  this  time  a  very  young 
man,  and  wrote  and  acted  with  all  the  fervour  of 
youth.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  he  and  others, 
when  they  entered  the  university,  consented  to  place 
themselves  under  its  discipline,  and  that,  therefore, 
every  irregularity  was  in  fact  a  breach  of  their  en- 
gagement with  that  body.  The  only  excuse  for  their 
conduct,  was  the  almost  total  dearth  of  vital  religion 
which  prevailed  at  that  time.  A  similar  line  of  con- 
duct in  the  present  day  would  be  altogether  inexcus- 
able ;  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  career 
of  Sir  H.  Trelawny  would  have  been  much  more 
useful,  had  he  passed  in  patience  through  his  studies 
at  Oxford  and  entered  the  church,  of  which  his  zeal 
and  talents  as  a  preacher,  as  well  as  his  situation  in 
society,  would  have  rendered  him  in  all  probability  a 
bright  and  useful  ornament.  When  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  advised  others  to  follow  a  course  similar  to  his 
own,  he  forgot  that  he  was  a  sort  of  privileged  person ; 
that  both  his  bodily  strength  and  mental  energy  were 
incalculably  beyond  those  of  almost  any  other  indivi- 
dual ;  and  that  the  same  tacit  consent  to  his  moving 
in  an  eccentric  orbit,  which  he  was  gradually  gain- 
ing, would  not  be  granted  to  another,  whose  constitu- 
tion of  mind,  powers  of  imagination,  and  long  proved 
11* 


126  MR.  RICHARD    HILL.      MR.  HALLWARD. 

integrity  of  heart  and  purpose,  had  not  become  the 
subjects  of  equal  notoriety. 

It  is  a  fault  often  to  be  lamented  in  modern  biogra- 
phy, that  while  all  the  virtues  of  men  of  piety  are 
blazoned  forth  as  bright  examples  to  follow,  their  fail- 
ings are  seldom  exhibited  as  beacons  to  warn  us  of 
the  dangers  of  our  course.  It  must  therefore  be  can- 
didly acknowledged  that  the  venerable  subject  of 
these  memoirs  had,  at  this  period  of  his  life,  fallen 
into  an  error  which  somewhat  diminished  his  useful- 
ness, and  brought  him  into  discredit  with  persons  ot 
influence.  He  was  constantly  in  the  habit  of  mixing 
up  politics  with  his  sermons,  and  of  denouncing,  in 
every  place  which  he  visited,  the  war  with  America ; 
and  this  in  such*  violent  language,  that  hints  were 
given  him  of  its  being  noticed.  The  agitation  of  this 
question  also  made  the  controversy  between  him  and 
the  Wesleyans,  partly  political  and  partly  theological, 
and  was  the  cause  of  serious  evil.  Whatever  may 
be  the  opinions  of  ministers  as  to  abstract  political 
questions,  their  theme  in  the  pulpit,  and  no  other 
ought  to  enter  there,  should  be  Christ  and  him  cru- 
cified. 

In  the  year  1776  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  the  grati- 
fication of  seeing  his  brother  Richard  elected  as  the 
representative  of  his  native  county  in  parliament ;  a 
circumstance  which  brought  them,  when  in  London, 
into  perpetual  contact  with  each  other.  Mr.  Richard 
Hill  was  chosen  member  for  Shropshire,  at  six  suc- 
cessive elections:  in  1806  he  resigned.  Men  of  piety 
and  zeal  ever  received  a  cordial  welcome  to  his  house ; 
and  he  manifested,  upon  all  occasions,  an  ardent  de- 
sire to  aid  them  in  their  endeavours  to  extend  the 
knowledge  of  the  Saviour.  The  very  year  in  which 
he  first  entered  the  house  of  commons,  Mr.  Richard 
Hill  defended,  in  a  series  of  letters,  the  doctrines  of 
Mr.  Hallward,  his  brother's  friend  and  correspondent 
before  mentioned  in  this  work.  He  afterwards  pub- 
lished them  in  a  pamphlet  eniiiled Fietas  Red i?igensis 


REV.  W.   B.  CADOGAN.  DEATH  OF  ROUQUET.   127 

or  Reading  Piety.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  early  friend 
filled  the  curacy  of  St.  Giles',  Reading,  from  which  it 
is  well  known  he  was  displaced  by  Mr.  Cadogan,  on 
his  succeeding  to  that  preferment,  but  was  afterwards 
entreated  by  him,  in  the  most  aifectionate  and  peni- 
tential terms,  to  re-occupy  the  useful  station  from 
which  he  had  been  so  unjustly  removed.  Mr.  Cado- 
gan  concludes  his  invitation  in  these  affecting 
words — "  I  should  be  obliged  to  you  for  an  answer 
as  soon  as  convenient,  as  you  may  be  sure  I  shall 
make  no  other  application  till  I  have  heard  from  you. 
I  commend  myself  to  your  pity  and  prayers,  of  both 
of  which  I  stand  in  great  need  ;  and  hope  you  will 
believe  me,  though  once  a  blasphemer,  persecutor, 
and  injurious,  to  be  yours  most  faithliilly  and  afiec- 
tionately  in  Christ  Jesus,  W.  B.  Cadogan."  This 
offer  Mr.  Hallward  could  not  accept,  as  a  friend  liad 
presented  him  to  a  living  ;  but  he  visited  the  former 
scene  of  his  labours,  and  continued  with  the  people 
for  several  months. 

This  year  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  deprived,  by 
death,  of  his  excellent  friend  Mr.  Rouquet,  whose  con- 
stant and  hearty  welcome  at  Bristol  had  given  a 
charm  to  all  his  visits  to  that  city,  and  in  whose 
church  it  will  be  recollected  he  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon after  ordination.  He  died  in  the  47th  year  of 
his  age,  on  the  16th  of  November,  1776.  Just  before 
he  expired,  he  exclaimed  thrice,  "  levant  to  go  home,''' 
when  his  spirit  winged  its  way  to  the  aiiansion  pre- 
pared for  it  in  the  unseen  world  of  glory.  He  u-e7it 
home,  and  left  many  a  poor  pilgrim  to  weep  over  the 
loss  sustained  by  the  departure  of  such  a  guide  in  the 
way.  None  dropt  upon  his  grave  tears  of  more 
genuine  grief  than  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  who  briefly 
notices  the  event  in  his  much  neglected  diary.  His 
entry  is, 

"  Monday,  dear  Rouquet  died.  Thursday,  Trow- 
bridge anniversary* — Eat  the  fat  and  drink  the 
*  This  sermon  Mr.  Rouquet  always  preached. 


128  FUNERAL  SERMON. 

sweetj  £,'c.  Lord's  day  morning,  began  my  labours 
in  Bristol.  Morn,  preached  a  funeral  sermon  at  St. 
Werburgh's,  Well  done  good  and  faithful  servant, 
S^c.  Eve,  Tabernacle,  on  the  same  occasion — / 
heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me  write, 
^c.  Tuesday,  St.  Nicholas — /  have  finished  my 
course,  I  have,  ^^c." 

The  first  of  these  sermons  on  the  Sunday,  or  rather 
as  much  as  he  recollected  of  it,  he  published  with  the 
title,  a  "  token  of  respect  to  the  memoiy  of  the  late 
Rev.  James  Rouquet ;  being  the  substance  of  a  ser- 
mon preached  in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Werburgh, 
in  the  city  of  Bristol,  on  Sunday,  November  24th, 
1776,  by  Rowland  Hill,  A.  M.,  chaplain  to  the  Coun- 
tess of  Chesterfield."  He  was  appointed  Chaplain  to 
Melusina,  Countess  Dowager  of  Chesterfield,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1773,  as  appears  from  the  instrument  itself 
found  amongst  his  papers.  The  sermon  bears  a 
strong  and  well  expressed  testimony  to  the  excellence 
of  Mr.  Rouquet's  character,  and  the  usefulness  of  his 
ministry  :  it  is  dedicated  to  the  poor,  amongst  whom 
its  excellent  subject  so  diligently  laboured,  and  who 
followed  in  weeping  multitudes  his  cofiin  to  the  tomb. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  began  the  year  1777  at  Bristol, 
where  he  remained  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Rouquet, 
He  preached  there  nine  striking  and  useftil  sermons, 
on  the  ivhole  armour  of  God,  a  subject  on  which  he 
always  spoke  with  great  originality  and  fervour.  One 
of  his  favourite  books  was  Gurnall's  Christian  Ar- 
mour, and  he  often  recommended  it.  The  remark  of 
an  old  divine,  that  there  is  no  armour  for  the  back  in 
the  panoply  of  the  Christian  soldier,  was  also  fre- 
quently quoted  and  enlarged  on  in  his  sermons. 
"  The  believer,"  he  used  to  say,  "  never  turns  his 
back  upon  his  foe."  Then  he  would  exclaim,  "  show 
thy  shining  breastplate  of  righteousness,  go  forward, 
advance  towards  thy  enemy,  and  God  shall  protect 
thee  behind  ;  he  has  promised  it — the  glory  of  thy 
God  shall  be  thy  rerewardP     Tliis  last  expression 


PRISON  SCENES.  129 

he  fi^ave  with  an  energy  and  emphasis  belongins:  to 
himself  alone. 

Mr.  Hill  began  at  this  time  to  preach  frequently  to 
little  children,  whom  he  assembled  on  a  Sunday  for 
that  purpose  ;  and  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  last- 
ing impressions  had  been  made  on  the  minds  of  many 
of  them.  To  us  it  seems  extraordinary,  that  the  idea 
of  a  Sunday  school  had  never  yet  presented  itself  to 
any  one  of  the  pious  men  who  were  reviving  the 
cause  of  religion  in  this  country.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
was  extremely  fond  of  children,  and  delighted  in  ex- 
horting them  to  come  to  Jesus  ;  and  his  little  books 
for  their  instruction,  as  well  as  his  hymns  for  their 
use,  have  ever  been  justly  admired. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  a  diligent  visiter  of  the  jail 
at  Bristol,  where  he  preached  to  the  prisoners.  He 
began,  as  has  been  before  noticed,  to  visit  prisoners 
at  a  very  early  period  of  his  religious  career,  and  his 
mode  of  addressing  those  unhappy  creatures  was 
peculiarly  striking,  and  seemed  at  once  to  win  the 
confidence  even  of  the  most  hardened.  He  main- 
tained, while  conversing  with  condemned  criminals, 
a  solenm  dignity  of  manner,  with  an  admirable  con- 
ti'ol  over  his  feelings  ;  but  when  he  left  the  cell  of 
darkness  and  miseiy,  a  painful  reaction  took  place. 
in  his  mind.  After  coming  from  Newgate,  in  Lon- 
don, where  he  had  visited  some  poor  wretch  who 
was  going  to  suffer  death,  he  would  scarcely  eat  of 
any  thing  at  dinner,  and  at  its  conclusion  drew  back 
in  his  chair  to  the  wall  near  the  window,  quite  ab- 
sorbed in  the  solemn  recollection  of  the  scene  of  dis- 
tress. If  asked  a  question,  he  answered  it  in  an 
absent  manner,  and  every  now  and  then  muttered 
some  indistinct  expression,  in  reference  to  the  painful 
subject  which  had  taken  such  a  hold  of  his  benevo- 
lent and  sensitive  mind.  All  he  has  written  of  prison 
scenes  was  felt  and  experienced  by  him — and  he 
drew  the  picture  with  painful  fidelity  to  the  horrors 
of  human  wo,  derived  from  disobedience  of  the  laws 


130  REFLECTIONS  ON  PRISON  SCENES. 

of  God  and  man.  His  reflections  on  these  occasions' 
seemed  to  be  of  a  twofold  character — pity  for  the 
sufferers,  and  thankfulness  for  the  striking  contrast 
of  his  own  situation  to  theirs.  He  would  ejaculate 
in  a  solemn  whisper — "  condemned  to  die  ! — O  my 
God,  what  a  mercy  to  be  kept  from  sin  by  the  re- 
straining grace  of  thy  Holy  Spirit."  Those  who 
knew  him  well  will  remember  these  moments  of  pen- 
sive thought,  which  he  vented  as  though  insensible 
of  the  presence  of  any  other  person.  He  occasion- 
ally seemed  lost  to  all  sense  of  the  things  of  time,  and 
was  carried  away  from  every  earthly  recollection  by 
a  current  of  thought  deep  and  rapid,  on  the  stream 
of  which  all  the  affections  and  purposes  of  his  mind 
were  borne  far  beyond  the  attractions  of  this  vain 
and  changing  world  of  uncertainty,  emptiness,  and 
wo. 

To  trace  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  at  this  period  of  his 
life,  as  we  have  done  in  the  earlier  stages  of  his  min- 
istry, would  only  carry  us  precisely  through  the  same 
scenes  as  those  we  have  already  noticed ;  nor  would 
it  be  easy,  as  he  ceased  to  keep  any  regular  journal 
of  the  places  and  subjects  of  his  preaching.  It  is  in- 
tended also  to  insert  in  this  memoir  nothing  but  what 
is  derived  from  authentic  sources,  or  from  his  own 
papers.  There  was  likewise  little  or  no  variation  in 
his  mode  of  itinerating :  the  only  difference  was  a 
gradual  diminution  of  the  violent  opposition  he  met 
with  in  his  early  days.  When  he  left  off  entering 
his  texts  in  a  regular  diary,  he  purchased  a  small 
bible  which  he  had  divided  into  two  interleaved  vo- 
lumes ;  and  in  this  found  it  more  convenient  to  note 
the  subjects  as  he  preached  from  them.  He  began 
this  early  in  1777,  and  marked  the  portions  of  scrip- 
ture which  he  brought  before  the  people  in  the  vari- 
ous places  which  he  visited,  till  the  year  1799. 

The  year  1777  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  divided  between 
Bristol,  Wotton,  and  London,  and  preached  probably 
as  many  sermons  as  in  any  year  of  his  life.     In  Oc- 


WESLEYAN  CONTROVERSY  CONTINUED.         13! 

tober  he  wrote  the  httle  work,  from  which  an  extract 
has  been  already  given,  called,  "  A  Full  Answer  to 
the  Rev.  J.  Wesley's  remarks  upon  a  late  pamphlet, 
published  in  the  defence  of  the  characters  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Whitefield  and  others,  in  a  Letter  to  a  Friend." 
However  greatly  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  contro- 
versy should  still  have  continued,  it  is  impossible  to 
read  this  pamphlet,  without  being  struck  with  his 
candid  spirit  and  acute  reasoning  upon  facts,  although 
there  is  much  in  it  from  which  any  man  may  fairly 
be  allowed  to  differ.  He  says  in  the  beginning — 
"  The  Lord  rectify  my  former  mistakes,  and  give  me 
to  write  in  the  spirit  of  the  gospel."  "  Still,  how- 
ever," he  adds,  in  the  next  sentence,  "  if  plain  facts 
continue  to  bear  hard  upon  Mr.  Wesley,  let  it  be  re- 
membered the  fault  is  not  mine."  He  certainly  does 
produce  some  very  striking  ones  to  prove  the  truth 
of  his  statements  in  a  former  book,  and  to  show  that 
whatever  Wesley's  views  of  perfection  might  lie,  he 
was  doubtless  at  some  considerable  distance  from  it 
himself.  Mr.  Hill  was  more  particularly  vexed  at 
the  attacks  made  by  Wesley  on  the  memory  of  White- 
field,  and  the  character  of  his  friend  Lady  Hunting- 
don ;  and  these  accordingly  form  the  first  and  leading 
subjects  of  his  letter.  But  Wesley,  whom  nothing 
escaped,  had  made  severe  remarks  "  upon  young  Mr, 
Rowland's  "  political  preaching,  and  denounced  his 
observations  on  the  rights  of  the  colonies  as  disloyal. 
This  charge  Mr.  Hill  rebuts  in  the  strongest  terms, 
and  declares  that  both  himself  and  his  hearers  are 
daily  praying  for  blessings  upon  the  king,  peace  upon 
the  kingdom,  and  wishing,  as  much  as  in  them  is, 
to  live  peaceably  vnth  all  men.  He  says  besides, 
"  from  the  pulpit  and  the  press  our  characters  are 
bespattered,  and  our  sentiments  most  grossly  misre- 
presented." We  can  only  lament  now,  that  any 
portion  of  a  life  so  devoted  to  God  should  have  been 
wasted  in  such  a  controversy  as  this.  Here  we  shall 
take  leave  of  the  subject,  to  which  it  was  necessary, 


1S2       DEATH  AND  FUNERAL  OF  TOPLADY,  1778. 

in  a  faithful  biography,  to  advert.  The  warjflire 
perhaps  was  not  without  its  uses;  but  the  benefits 
derived  from  it  were  such  as  nature  gains  Ijy  the 
commotion  of  the  elements  in  a  storm,  and  not  like 
those  which  the  earth  receives  from  the  fertilizing 
and  refreshing  shower,  or  from  the  beams  of  the 
bright  and  genial  sunshine  of  each  warm  and  cloud- 
less day. 

Late  in  the  year  1777,  Mr,  Rowland  Hill  records 
that  he  preached  a  sermon  at  '-Mr.  Toplady's  chapel;" 
little  thinking,  probably,  that  he  was  during  the  follow- 
ing year,  to  lose  him  by  the  stroke  of  death,  though 
it  had  been  feared  for  some  time  past  that  his  health 
was  on  the  decline.  There  were  few  persons  for  whose 
piety,  character,  and  talents,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had 
a  higher  veneration  ;  and  the  shades  of  difference  of 
opinion,  in  some  points,  which  existed  between  them, 
never  oljscured  in  the  slightest  degree  the  perfect  sin- 
cerity of  their  friendship.  The  removal  of  Toplady 
was  the  prominent  event  affecting  Mr.  Hill  in  1778. 
In  other  respects,  his  career  was  veiy  similar  to  that 
of  former  years — an  uninterrupted  and  energetic 
course  of  almost  daily  preaching.  Mr.  Toplady  died 
on  Tuesday,  August  11,  1778  :  and  on  the  17th  of 
the  same  month,  his  remains  \\^ere  conveyed  from 
Knightsbridge,  for  interment  in  Tottenham-court 
chapel.  In  accordance  with  his  expressed  desire, 
that  he  might  be  laid  in  the  sepulchre  of  the  dead 
without  any  eulogy  fi-om  the  living,  or  the  parade  of 
an  ostentatious  funeral,  the  time  of  his  burial  was 
kept,  as  much  as  possible,  concealed  from  the  public. 
Still,  from  information  which  could  not  be  prevented, 
thousands  of  persons  attended  at  the  ceremony ;  and 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  unable  to  restrain  the  expression 
of  his  feelings,  rose  unexpectedly,  and  with  an  ener- 
gy and  pathos  that  commanded  the  breathless  atten- 
tion of  the  congregated  multitude,  delivered  an  un- 
studied, but  not  on  that  account  less  touching  and 
beautiful  address,  on  the  excellences  of  him  over 


LETTER  OF  MR.  MATTHEWS.  133 

whom  they  were  then  assembled  to  lament.  The 
power  of  his  language  on  this  occasion  added  to  his 
reputation  as  a  speaker  ;  it  also  evinced  the  real  feel- 
ing and  piety  of  his  heart,  whence  it  came  in  all  the 
glowing  sensibility  of  the  emotions  by  which  it  was 
agitated  and  impressed.  The  same  evening  he 
preached  at  the  Tabernacle,  on  Jer.  xxxii.  40,  41, 
evidently  an  allusion  to  the  deceased,  and  the  pecu- 
liar opinions  of  which  he  had  been  the  champion  ; 
and  Mr.  Matthews,*  the  friend  of  Toplady,  employed 
the  close  of  the  day  in  writing  him  an  account  of  the 
last  moments  of  that  eminent  departed  minister. 
His  letter  was  as  follows : — 

Rev.  Sir, 

I  have  scarcely  time  to  transmit  you  the  fol- 
lowing remarks  and  sayings  of  our  dear  departed 
friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady.  He  was  blessed  dur- 
ring  his  late  illness  with  great  consolations,  and  al- 
most an  uninterrupted  sunshine  of  God's  counte- 
nance. His  assurance  of  faith  was  steady  and  firm, 
like  the  basis  on  which  it  was  built.  He  has  fre- 
quently declared,  "  that  he  had  not  had  the  least 
doubt  of  his  personal  interest  in  Christ,  for  many 
months  past."  He  told  me  very  lately  that  he  was 
"  the  happiest  man  in  the  world."  He  said  to  a  friend, 
"  O  how  this  soul  of  mine  longs  to  be  gone,  like  a 
bird  out  of  a  cage,  to  the  realms  of  bliss  ;  O  that 
some  guardian  angel  might  be  commissioned,  for  I 
long  to  be  absent  from  this  body." 

When  being  asked  by  a  friend  if  he  always  enjoy- 
ed such  great  manifestations,  he  replied,  "  that  he 
could  not  say  that  there  were  no  intermissions  ;  for 
if  there  had  not  been,  his  consolations  would  have 
been  more  than  he  could  have  supported  ;  but  when 

*  Mr.  Matthews  was  a  most  respectable  and  excellent  book- 
seller, No.  18,  Strand,  and  was  much  with  Mr.  Toplady  in  his 
last  illness.     He  was,  I  have  heard  Mr.  Hill  say,  the  father  of 
the  celebrated  comedian  of  the  same  name. 
12 


134  LETTER  OF  MR.  MATTHEWS. 

they  were  abated,  they  always  left  such  an  abiding 
sense  of  God's  goodness,  and  his  being  fixed  upon 
the  rock,  that  it  filled  his  soul  with  joy  and  peace. 

Another  time,  and  indeed  many  days  together,  it 
was  his  declaration.  •'  Oh  !  what  a  day  of  sunshine 
has  this  been,  I  have  not  words  to  express — almost 
without  intermission  his  presence  has  been  with  me  ;" 
and  then  repeated  various  passages  of  God's  word, 
adding,  "  what  a  great  thing  it  is  to  rejoice  in  death  !" 
Speaking  of  Christ,  he  said,  "  his  love  is  unalter- 
able." He  was  happy  in  declaring  that  the  Sth 
chapter  of  the  Romans,  the  33rd  and  six  following 
verses,  "  were  the  joy  of  his  soul."  He  often  spake 
upon  that  passage  of  God's  word  with  great  delight, 
and  said,  "  Lord  Jesus  why  tarriest  thou  so  long  ?" 
He  used  to  say,  "  I  find  as  the  bottles  of  heaven 
empty  they  are  filled  again,"  meaning,  I  suppose,  the 
continual  out-pourings  of  the  Spirit  with  which  he 
was  favoured. 

When  he  drew  near  his  end,  he  asked,  "  Who  can 
fathom  the  joys  of  the  third  heaven  ?"  And  believing 
the  doctrine  of  the  ministration  of  angels  to  God's 
saints,  he  said,  "  What  can  be  the  reason  that  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel  speak  so  little  upon  it  ?" 

A  little  before  his  departure,  he  was  blessing  and 
praising  the  Lord  for  giving  him  strength  in  helping 
himself^  and  understanding ;  but  added,  "  What  was 
all  this  to  his  presence  and  the  shining  of  his  love 
to  my  soul  ?"  And  cried  out  "  the  sky  is  clear,  there 
is  no  cloud." 

Within  an  hour  of  his  death,  he  called  his  servant, 
and  said — "  Can  you  and  my  friends  give  me  up  7" 
she  said,  "  We  can,  as  the  Lord  is  so  gracious  to 
you."  He  replied,  "  Oh,  what  a  blessing  it  is  that  my 
dear  friends  are  made  willing  to  give  me  up  into  the 
hands  of  my  dear  Redeemer,  and  to  part  with  me.  It 
will  not  be  long  before  God  takes  me."  He  added, 
"  No  mortal  man  could  live,  after  God  had  manifest- 
ed to  him  the  joys  that  I  have  seen."     Many  more 


WESLEY  AND  MR.  RICHARD  HILL.  135 

glorious  confessions  passed  from  his  lips,  but  time 
fails  me  to  enumerate  them.  I  can  only  add,  that 
his  gain  is  the  church's  loss,  and  pray  God  to  send 
more  such  able  champions  into  his  vineyard,  that  may 
be  enabled  to  make  as  bold  a  stand  for  the  defence  of 
the  gospel  as  he  has  done. 

I  hope,  sir,  you  will  pardon  the  incorrectness  that 
you  meet  with,  and  excuse  the  hasty  manner  of 
drawing  it  up,  being  much  straightened  for  time. 
May  the  Lord  bless  you  and  your  ministrations,  and 
grant  that  you  and  I  may  thus  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  and  that  our  latter  end  may  be  life  his. 
is  the  earnest  prayer  of 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
in  the  best  of  bonds, 

JAMES  MATTHEWS. 

Strand,  No.  18.  August  17th,  1778. 
The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill. 

This  interesting  account  of  the  comfort  enjoyed  by 
Mr.  Toplady  in  the  prospect  of  death,  is  a  complete 
answer  to  all  assertions  to  the  contrary,  which  were 
too  readily  believed.  A  similar  contradiction  to  these 
reports  was  given  to  the  public  at  the  time  they  were 
afloat ;  and  Mr.  Matthews  was  one  of  those  who  sign- 
ed the  published  testimonial  to  the  triumph  of  his 
faith,  in  the  awful  moment  of  separation  from  all  the 
scenes  and  attractions  of  this  material  world.  In  1779, 
Mr.  Richard  Hill  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Wesley, 
calling  on  him,  in  a  series  of  questions,  to  say  whe- 
ther or  not  he  was  the  person  who  circulated  any  of  the 
reports,  which  tended  to  cast  a  shade  over  the  last 
moments  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Toplady.  He  had  previ- 
ously made  the  same  queries,  anonymously,  in  the  Ge- 
neral Advertiser ;  and  as  Wesley  declined  answering 
them  without  knowing  their  author,  he  now  acknow- 
ledges that  they  came  from  him,  and  repeats  them. 
Sir  Richard  HilPs  own  copy  of  this  letter  was  amongst 
the  papers  of  his  brother,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  and  on 


136  NEWTON,  ROMAINE,  COWPER. 

it  is  written,  in  the  author's  hand- writing,  "  to  this 
Mr.  John  never  made  any  reply  •,  but  two  friends  of 
Mr.  Toplady's  waiting  upon  him  to  know  wherefore 
he  had  made  such  assertions,  he  passed  by  them,  got 
into  a  coach  that  was  waiting,  and  said,  '  those  that 
are  for  peace  will  let  these  things  alone.' " 

From  this  time  to  the  period  of  the  erection  of 
Surry  chapel,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  continued  his  itine- 
rancy in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom.  He  paid  fre- 
quent visits  to  his  family  at  Hawkstone,  when  he 
alwa^^s  officiated  in  the  chapel  of  the  house,  and  in  the 
episcopal  chapel  at  Weston,  where  he  used  great 
fidelity,  and  took  much  pains  in  the  selection  of  his 
subjects. 

In  the  year  1779,  Mr.  Newton  came  to  London, 
and  commenced  his  ministerial  duties  there,  in  which, 
and  in  those  of  Mr.  Romaine,  Mr.  Hill  took  a  lively 
interest.  It  was  through  Mr.  Newton  that  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  the  poet  Cow^er ;  and  no  one 
more  deeply  grieved  over  the  painful  gloom,  which 
obscured  an  intellect  as  pure  and  enlightened  as  ever 
adorned  a  himian  being.  He  received  much  kindness 
and  attention  from  Cowper,  and  always  spoke  of  him 
with  the  greatest  reverence  and  affection. 

The  crowds  which  followed  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
every  where  at  this  time  were  excessive,  and  his  mi- 
nistry was  greatly  blessed.  Amongst  those  who  pro- 
fited by  his  preaching,  were  several  persons  who  had 
amassed  considerable  fortunes,  by  diligence  and  inte- 
grity in  business,  and  who  were  willing  to  consecrate 
no  small  portion  of  their  gains  to  the  service  of  their 
Saviour.  They  moreover  naturally  desired  to  find 
some  place  of  a  permanent  nature,  in  which  the  minis- 
ter whom  they  loved  might  assemble  them  as  his  own 
congregation,  and  convey  at  the  same  time  the  truths 
of  the  gospel  to  a  neglected  portion  of  the  metropolis. 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  often  preached  in  the  open  air, 
to  vast  multitudes  in  St.  George's  fields  ;  and  he  used 
to  say  that  at  the  time  of  the  riots,  in  1780,  he  had 


SURRY  CHAPEL.  187 

addressed  on  the  momentous  concerns  of  eternity,  as- 
semblies of  nearly  twenty  thousand  people.  Many 
of  these  were  so  wrought  on  by  his  preaching,  that  they 
returned  home  to  seek  in  retirement  mercy  from  their 
God,  forgetting  political  excitement  in  an  all  absorb- 
ing anxiety  for  tlie  salvation  of  their  souls.  His  own 
thoughts,  as  well  as  those  of  his  friends,  now  turned 
towards  St.  George's  fields,  as  an  appropriate  situation 
for  a  large  place  of  worship  ;  and  it  was  at  length  de- 
termined to  erect  a  building  for  this  purpose  which 
should  be  called  Surry  chapel.  To  further  this  object 
he  found  many  willing  and  liberal  contributors,  who 
cheerfully  consented  to  permit  him  to  spend  the  sum- 
mer months  either  in  travelling,  or  in  his  delightful 
retreat  at  Wotton,  and  were  content  with  such  sup- 
plies during  his  absence  as  he  should  appoint.  At 
this  time,  not  only  chapels  in  every  part  of  the  king- 
dom were  freely  opened  to  him,  but  a  considerable 
number  of  churches  in  the  country  and  in  London. 
In  the  neighbourhood  of  the  seat  of  his  family, 
there  were  several  clergymen  who  cordially  welcomed 
him  to  their  pulpits,  and  none  more  so  than  his  zea- 
lous friend  Mr.  De  Courcy,  the  incumbent  of  the  pa- 
rish of  St.  Alkmond  in  Shrewsbury,  where  he  preached 
many  of  his  most  effective  sermons.  He  found  also 
clergymen  ready  to  afford  him  their  services  at  Surry 
chapel,  particularly  Messrs.  Venn  and  Scott.  The 
former  of  these  excellent  men  came  regularly  from 
Yelling  to  assist  him ;  and  an  annual  exchange  took 
place  between  Mr.  Hill  and  the  well  known  preacher 
at  the  Lock.* 

It  was  determined  to  have  the  service  of  the  new 
chapel  performed  according  to  the  ritual  of  the  church 
of  England ;  and  there  were  but  few  among  the  origi- 

*  Mr.  Scott's  own  remark  on  this  exchange  is — "after  I  had 
been  a  few  j-ears  in  London,  I  refused  to  preach  irregularly,  ex- 
cept as  once  in  the  year  I  consented  to  exchange  pulpits  with 
Mr.  Hill  of  Surry  chapel,  that  being  the  stipulated  condition  of 
his  preaching  a  charity  sermon  for  the  Lock  Hospital." 
12* 


138  SURRY  CHAPEL. 

nal  promoters  of  its  erection,  who  did  not  find  in  such 
spiritual  forms  of  devotion,  a  suitable  expression  of 
the  outgoings  of  their  minds,  in  the  public  worship  of 
God.  The  situation  was  chosen,  not  with  reference 
to  the  advantages  of  place,  but  with  the  design  of 
ameliorating  the  religious  condition,  and  administer- 
ing to  the  spiritual  benefit,  of  one  of  the  most  depraved 
districts  in  the  metropolis ;  and  this  not  only  by  pre- 
cept, but  by  the  yet  stronger  influence  of  the  pious 
and  benevolent  example,  of  those  who  formed  the  nu- 
cleus of  the  congregation.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  own 
design  with  respect  to  the  chapel,  was  that  its  pulpit 
should  be  open  to  pious  ministers  of  all  denomina- 
tions, and  of  every  country.  This  sort  of  union  was 
the  point  to  which  all  the  public  actions  of  his  life 
converged,  and  made  him  the  zealous  supporter  of 
every  institution,  that  drew  together  men  of  different 
religious  communities  into  one  common  arena  of  ac- 
tion. The  impulses  of  a  benevolent  disposition, 
much  more  than  deep  reflection,  were  the  moving 
principles  of  his  religious  career ;  and  he  believed 
that  things  might  be  as  he  wished  to  see  them.  The 
light  of  love  was  so  bright  in  his  mind,  that  it  over- 
powered the  milder  beams  of  deliberate  calculation. 
This  was  so  evident,  that  even  those  who  differed 
most  widely  from  him,  never  doubted  for  an  instant, 
the  perfect  purity  of  his  intentions,  or  the  honesty  of 
his  opinions. 


SURRY  CHAPEL.  139 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SURRY  CHAPEL.       1782. 

The  first  meeting  to  forward  the  erection  of  Surry 
chapel,  was  held  on  February  4th,  1782,  at  which 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  and  several  other  persons,  minis- 
ters and  laymen,  attended.  It  was  there  determined 
that  the  building  sliould  be  placed  in  the  most  eligible 
spot,  between  Blackfriars'  bridge  and  the  obelisk,  to 
be  chosen  by  persons  selected  for  that  purpose.  It  was 
also  agreed  that  the  affairs  of  the  chapel  should  be 
vested  in  trustees,  but  that  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  should 
provide  and  direct  the  ministers,  so  long  as  he  should 
•preach  agreeably  to  the  doctrinal  articles  of  the 
church  of  England,  and  did  not  give  the  use  of  the 
jndjjit  to  any  one  wlio  was  known  to  preach  other- 
wise. Very  liberal  subscriptions  soon  raised  the 
necessary  funds  ;  and  amongst  the  names  of  the 
subscribers  appears  that  of  Lord  George  Gordon,  for 
fifty  pounds.  The  erection  of  Surry  chapel  receiv- 
ed also  the  sanction  of  the  manag-ers  of  Mr.  White- 
field's  chapels,  where  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  so  often 
preached,  and  they  expressed  an  earnest  wish  to  re- 
main still  upon  the  most  amicable  terms,  and  to  assist 
one  another. 

The  first  stone  of  this  well  known  place  of  worship, 
was  laid  by  its  future  minister,  on  June  24th,  1782, 
when  he  addressed  the  vast  assembly  present,  on  the 
words.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  behold  I 
lay  in  Zionfor  a  foundation,  a  stone,  a  tried  stone, 
a  j)recioiis  corner-stone,  a  sure  foimdation ;  he  that 
believeth  shall  not  make  haste,  Isaiah  xxviii.  16.  He 
has  marked  against  this  passage  in  his  interleaved 


140  SURRY  CHAPEL. 

bible,  "  1st  sermon,  Surry  church,  June  24, — 82."  No 
less  than  three  other  persons  afterwards  preached  to 
the  multitude  around  them.  Very  much  to  the  annoy- 
ance of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  some  individual,  soon  af- 
ter the  ceremony,  published  a  sermon  which  pro- 
fessed to  be  the  one  delivered  by  him  on  the  occasion. 
This  he  disclaimed  m  several  of  the  daily  papers ; 
notwithstanding  which,  it  was  reviewed,  as  his,  in 
some  of  the  periodicals  of  the  day,  and  amongst  them 
ni  the  European  Magazine,  in  which  both  himself 
and  his  pretended  production  were  ridiculed.  This,  as 
will  be  seen  hereafter,  he  noticed  severely  in  his  pre- 
face to  the  sermon  delivered  at  the  opening  of  his 
chapel. 

Although  anxious  of  course  to  be  much  on  the  spot, 
during  the  erection  of  tliis  important  building,  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  did  not  neglect  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  peo- 
ple in  Gloucestershire,  where  there  had  floclved  around 
him  a  band  of  converts,  whose  piety  would  have  done 
honour  to  any  church  in  any  age.  Religion  was  not 
then,  as  it  is  now,  admired  and  courted  by  the  world; 
but  it  was  sneered  at  and  despised,  and  those  who 
were  the  subjects  of  its  genuine  intluence  were  mark- 
ed and  avoided.  This  threw  the  real  Christian  on  his 
own  resources  ;  they  were  his  all,  and  he  experienced 
their  inexhaustible  power  of  giving  inward  comfort, 
and  producing  external  fruitfulness. 

The  building  of  the  new  chapel  in  London  was  suf- 
ficiently advanced  in  the  summer  of  1783,  to  allow  it 
to  be  opened  for  public  worship  on  the  eighth  of  June. 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  selected  for  his  text  on  that  day 
the  words — But  we  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the 
Jews  a  stiimhling  block  ;  and  unto  the  G^reeks  fool- 
ishness: hut  unto  them  which  are  called,  both  Jews 
and  Greeks,  Christ  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  God :  1  Cor,  i.  23,  24.  While  the  Avorks 
were  in  progress,  he  had  frequently  spoken  to  many 
people  drawn  to  them  by  curiosity,  and  his  addresses 
on  these  opportunities  were  made  very  useful.     Se- 


SURRY  CHAPEL.      OPENING  SERMON.  141 

veral  persons  also  were  converted  by  the  sermon  he 
had  preached  at  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  founda- 
tion stone,  some  of  whom  came  to  him  to  declare  the 
impression  made  on  their  minds,  and  to  ask  his  advice. 
He  used  also  to  gather  the  little  children  together, 
when  they  came  to  play  about  the  building,  and  after 
engaging  their  confidence  by  kind  words,  and  by  little 
presents  of  cakes  and  fruit,  he  would  talk  to  them  of 
Jesus  in  the  simplest  and  most  affecting  manner.  In 
the  evening  of  the  same  day  tliat  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
opened  his  chapel  by  the  sermon  just  alluded  to,  Mr. 
Piercy  preached  another  in  the  same  place,  and  a  very 
serious  occurrence  had  nearly  happened.  The  build- 
ing being  erected  on  a  marshy  soil,  the  foundation 
was  considered  by  some  persons  insecure,  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  service  a  false  alarm  was  given  that  it 
was  yielding  to  the  pressure  of  the  crowd.  Mr.  Hill 
entered  the  pulpit,  and  endeavoured  to  persuade  them 
that  all  their  apprehensions  were  groundless,  to  prove 
which,  he  said  he  should  remain  there  till  the  last,  and 
begged  them  to  stay  quietly  in  their  seats.  Notwith- 
standing this,  a  general  rush  took  place,  and  many  in 
their  struggle  to  get  out  were  much  injured.  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  was  forced  out  by  the  pressure,  and  fell 
in  the  chapel  yard,  but  providentially  escaped  any 
serious  bruises. 

The  spurious  production  which  was  sent  out  as  the 
sermon  delivered  by  him  on  the  day  of  laying  the 
foundation-stone,  induced  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  pub- 
lish the  one  he  preached  at  the  opening  of  Suriy 
chapel.  Many  of  his  hearers  also  earnestly  requested 
him  to  print  it.  Though  not  in  the  habit  of  writing 
or  making  notes  of  his  discourses,  he  had  on  this  oc- 
casion drawn  up  a  copious  outline  of  his  address,  to 
which  he  could  allude,  in  the  event  of  another  attempt 
to  palm  upon  the  public  a  composition  like  the  form- 
er. A  person,  too,  had  taken  down  the  sermon  in 
short-hand  as  delivered,  and  sent  him  a  copy  of  it ; 
and  from  these  two  sources  he  compiled  his  publica- 


142        ORIGINAL  TRUSTEES   OF  SURRY  CHAPEL. 

tion,  which  he  prefaced  by  some  severe  and  character- 
istic remarks,  upon  what  had  been  said  of  him  in  the 
previous  year,  by  the  writer  of  the  article  in  the  Eu- 
ropean  Magazine.     He  first  corrected  the  inaccura- 
cies into  which  they  had  fallen,  as  to  his  personal 
history  and  adventures.     He  next  made  the  following 
observations  upon  their  censures  of  his  doctrine : — ' 
"  And  as  they  are  pleased  to  give  the  public  charitably 
to  understand  that  my  methodistical  doctrines  of  grace 
are  '  hostile  tomorality.  tend  tooverthroiv  the  dutiesof 
o-ood  citizens,  and  the  vii'tues  of  good  men^  I  could 
almost  find  it  in  my  heart  to  ask  them  to  explain  to 
the  public  our  enthusiastical  notions  of  grace  ;  and  I 
dare  say  they  would  soon  discover  that  they  know  no 
more  what  they  write  against,  than  poor  Quixote  knew 
what  he  fought  against,  when  he  fought  with  the  wind- 
mill," The  title  of  the  sermon  is,  "  Christ  crucified  the 
sum  and  substance  of  the  scriptures,"  and  most  strik- 
ingly does  it  illustrate  the  great  scriptural  doctrnies 
of  the  divinity,  incarnation,  atonement,  and  exalta- 
tion of  Christ,  and  the  sanctification  and  comfort 
of  his  church.     It  concludes  with  a  plain  but  excel- 
lent remark  on  the  happiness  arising  from  religion, 
"  Fancy  not  that  you  lose  your  pleasures  when  you 
lose  your  sins,  and  that  living  to  God  will  be  an  irk- 
some task  :  no,  blessed  be  God,  thousands  can  declare 
that  they  never  knew  what  it  was  to  be  redeemed 
from  misery,  till  they  were  redeemed  from  sin.     My 
whole  soul  prays  that  God  would  make  you  of  that 
happy  number.     Even  so  be  it.  Lord  Jesus.  Amen." 
The  management  of  the  atiairs  of  Surry  chapel 
was,  as  has  been  before  mentioned,  vested  in  trustees;* 

*  The  original  trustees  were,  Sir  Richard  Hill,  Rev.  Rowland 
Hill,  Messrs.  Joseph  Simms,  John  Keysall,  Edward  Webster, 
Thomas  Wilson,  Samuel  Lloyd,  Will'iam  Lloyd,  John  Bush, 
James  Neale,  James  Webber,  Thomas  Briknell,  George  Smith, 
Ambrose  Martin,  John  Clarke.  All  these  have  passed  into  an- 
otlier  world  except  Mr.  William  Lloyd,  who  dined  with  his 
venerable  minister  and  the  other  trustees  only  a  few  weeks  be- 
fore his  death. 


DEATH  OF  SIR  ROWLAND  HILL.  143 

and  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  his 
brother  Richard  at  the  head  of  the  directors  of  the 
concerns  of  his  new  and  respectable  congregation. 
Surry  chapel  has  been  the  scene  of  many  a  remark- 
able event  in  the  religious  occurrences  of  the  age,  and 
of  very  numerous  and  striking  conversions.  Both 
the  organ  and  singing  have  long  been  celebrated : 
and  some,  attracted  there  simply  by  a  desire  to  hear 
its  music,  were  caught  in  the  net  cast  by  its  vigilant 
and  zealous  minister,  and  became  numbered  with  its 
most  active,  liberal,  and  constant  friends.  Once, 
however,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  a  narrow  escape 
from  the  iniquitous  design  of  some  miscreant,  who 
fired  at  him  while  in  the  pulpit,  through  one  of  the 
low  windows  next  Blackfriar's  road.  The  report 
was  heard,  and  the  ball,  or  other  hard  substance, 
passed  to  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  through  the  window 
near  the  organ,  which  it  broke.  The  individual  who 
attempted  this  dialiolical  act  was  never  discovered, 
nor  did  he  repeat  it ;  and  whenever  Mr.  Hill  men- 
tioned the  circumstance,  he  always  expressed  his 
thanks  to  providence  for  delivering  him  from  so  great 
a  danger :  for  had  not  the  substance  aimed  at  him 
risen  in  its  projection,  it  passed  so  directly  over  him. 
that  there  was  every  reason  to  fear  his  long  and  val- 
uable life  would  not  have  been  spared. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  in  which  his 
chapel  in  London  was  completed,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
lost  his  father.  Sir  Rowland  Hill  died  August  7th, 
1783.  By  this  event  he  obtained  some  accession 
of  fortune,  which  he  much  needed,  as  the  income 
he  derived  from  his  chapels  at  Wotton  and  London 
never,  in  any  one  year  of  his  life,  covered  his  expen- 
ses upon  them.  Of  the  proceeds  of  Surry  chapel,  the 
trustees  paid  him  only  £300  a  year,  and  out  of  that, 
he  boarded  the  whole  of  the  supplies  who  occupied 
the  pulpit,  during  his  absence  in  the  summer.  The 
rest  of  the  receipts  went  towards  the  support  of  the 
chapel,  and  to  the  aid  of  the  numerous  charitable 


144        BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY,  SURRY  CHAPEL. 

institutions  connected  with  it,  to  which  Mr.  Hill  al- 
ways was  a  munificent  contributor  from  his  own 
purse.  Some  person  once  said  of  him,  "  Rowland 
Hill  must  get  a  good  annual  sum  by  his  chapels  and 
travelling  " — which  coming  to  his  ears,  he  remark- 
ed— "  Well,  let  any  one  pay  my  travelling  expenses 
for  one  year,  and  he  shall  have  all  my  gains,  I  pro- 
mise him." 

Though  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  supplied  the  pulpit  at 
Surry  chapel,  while  absent,  with  ministers  of  various 
denominations,  his  chief  delight  was  in  getting  it 
occupied  by  his  old  clerical  friends,  Pentycross,  Ber- 
ridge,  and  Venn  ;  and  when  he  could  no  longer  ob- 
tain help  from  the  church  it  gave  him  no  little  dis- 
quietude. Probably  no  place  of  worship  has  been 
the  source  of  more  institutions,  for  promoting  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  man,  than  Surry 
chapel.  One  of  the  first,  begun  in  1784,  was  its  be- 
nevolent society  for  the  relief  and  personal  visitation 
of  the  sick  poor.  There  were  a  number  of  pious  and 
judicious  members  of  the  congregation  to  whom  this 
duty  was  entrusted,  and  who  were  willing  to  devote 
themselves  to  the  work.  Thus  whenever  a  doubtful 
application  was  made  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  for  relief, 
he  asked  for  the  person's  address,  and  answered,  "  I 
will  have  the  case  visited ;"  and  before  many  hours 
had  elapsed,  some  of  the  visiters  of  the  society  had 
either  relieved  the  distressed  family,  or  detected  the 
intended  imposture.  Accounts  of  the  most  striking 
cases  of  want,  that  had  occurred  to  these  truly  Chris- 
tian philanthropists,  were  read  annually  from  the 
pulpit,  and  a  collection  was  made  for  the  supply  of 
the  society  for  the  ensuing  year.  There  were  at- 
tached, moreover,  to  the  chapel,  no  less  than  thirteen 
Sunday  schools,  containing  above  three  thousand 
children  ;  and  from  this  source,  there  have  been  sup- 
plied to  the  heathen  world,  several  valuable  and  effi- 
cient missionaries.  More  devoted  teachers,  than 
those  who  undertook  the  gratuitous  superintendence 


ALMS-HOtSES,  DORCAS  SOCIETY,  &C.  145 

of  these  children,  have  never  been  found  in  any  simi- 
lar institution. 

The  contributions  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  congre- 
gation to  the  cause  of  missions  were  immense  ;  and 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  London  missionary  society, 
which  took  place  within  its  walls,  was  one  of  the 
most  striking  sights  of  the  kmd  to  be  seen  in  the  me- 
tropolis. There  was  also  a  female  missionary  society 
which  contributed  about  one  hundred  pomids  annu- 
ally to  this  cause. 

One  of  the  most  interestinsf  appurtenances  of  Surry 
chapel,  is  a  neat  gothic  buildino-  in  the  borough,  the 
centre  of  which  is  appropriated  to  a  school  of  indus- 
try for  twenty-four  poor  girls,  who  are  both  clothed 
and  educated.  Its  wings  contain  alms-houses  for  the 
same  number  of  poor  women,  who  are  allowed,  in 
addition  to  a  comfortable  room  and  a  sufficient  sup- 
ply of  fuel,  four  shillings  a  week  towards  their  sup- 
port. The  only  qualifications  necessary  for  a  can- 
didate, on  a  vacancy,  were  distress,  and  a  Christian 
character.  The  person  applying  must  have  been 
seven  years  a  regular  attendant  of  the  sacrament  at 
some  place  of  worship,  and  was  required  to  bring  tes- 
timonials of  her  consistent  conduct  from  the  minister. 

In  addition  to  the  institutions  already  mentioned, 
there  were  formed,  by  members  of  this  religious  com- 
munity, a  Dorcas  society  for  the  relief  of  poor  mar- 
ried women,  and  a  clothing  society  for  the  supply  of 
the  needy,  at  very  reduced  prices.  It  may  be  said  of 
these  societies,  that  though  the  machinery  by  which 
they  were  worked  was  somewhat  complicated,  the 
objects  they  had  in  view  were  admirably  effected  by 
them  ;  and  the  reason  of  this  was,  that  those  to  whom 
their  management  was  committed,  were  persons  who, 
by  evident  proofs  of  real  piety  and  zeal,  had  gained 
the  confidence  both  of  their  pastor  and  the  flock  in 
general. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  formed  at  Surry  chapel  a  reli- 
gious society  peculiarly  his  own,  with  the  articles  of 
13 


146  PRAYER  MEETINGS. 

the  church  of  England  as  its  standard  of  doctrine. 
Converts  who  gave  him  satisfactory  evidence  of  their 
sincerity,  were  admitted  into  the  society,  and  their 
names  enrolled  as  admissible  to  the  table  of  the 
Lord  ;  a  custom  not  unusual  in  dissenting  communi- 
ties. He  was  a  warm  advocate  for  prayer-meetings, 
which  he  constantly  attended  ;  but  no  person  prayed 
in  his  presence,  unless  called  upon  to  engaa^e  in  this 
sacred  exercise  by  himself  He  considered  that  much 
benefit  arose  from  them,  in  the  increase  of  a  spirit  of 
piety  and  brotherly  love ;  but  late  in  life,  he  admitted 
that  they  were  not  without  their  attendant  evils,  and 
wished  he  had  considered  by  what  means  he  could 
have  so  managed  as  to  have  made  them  the  channels 
of  more  unmixed  usefulness.  Still  he  was  of  opinion 
that,  on  the  whole,  great  good  resulted  from  them. 
The  question,  by  what  mode  of  meeting  his  people, 
in  addition  to  the  common  assemblies  for  regular 
worship,  a  minister  can  most  effectually  promote  their 
growth  in  religion,  and  become  acquainted  with  their 
state  of  mind,  without  engendering  spiritual  pride  in 
some,  and  jealousy  in  others,  is  well  worthy  the  con- 
sideration of  those  who  have  had  the  longest  expe- 
rience upon  such  subjects.  The  most  laborious  and 
intelligent  of  the  clergy  have  found  the  greatest  diffi- 
culty in  deciding  on  the  best  way  of  thus  managing 
the  private  discipline  of  those  who  have  received 
spiritual  benefit  from  their  preaching. 

To  distinguish  public  from  social  worship,  in 
which  a  layman  may  officiate  in  the  presence  of  his 
minister,  is  a  very  favourite  theory  with  some  good 
and  zealons  persons.  The  evils  resulting  from  this 
custom  amongst  dissenters,  have  long  been  visible  in 
the  dictatorial  direction  of  what  the  precise  views  of 
their  several  ministers  Tuust  be,  and  in  the  want  of 
a  teachable  spirit  in  receiving  their  instructions,  as 
well  as  of  a  willingness  to  be  guided  by  pastoral 
authority  and  influence.  For  a  clergyman  to  permit 
and  sanction  such  a  proceeding,  is  scarcely  consist- 


SITUATION  OF  SURRY  CHAPEL.  147 

ent  with  the  proper  discipHne  and  orderof  the  church ; 
and  is,  to  use  the  judicious  language  of  Mr.  Scott,  an 
"  irregularity  which  cannot  be  justified  to  our  dio- 
cesans or  others."  Besides,  any  thing  which  tends 
to  make  men  undervalue  the  appointed  usages  of 
public  worship,  conducted  solely  by  the  authorized 
minister,  is  an  evil  which  no  good,  arising  from  other 
modes  of  bringing  the  professedly  reUgious  together, 
can  ever  possibly  counterbalance. 

After  the  erection  of  Snrry  chapel,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  became  the  minister  of  a  regular  congregation, 
with  a  settled  residence  in  London.  He  was  not,  on 
this  account,  less  mindful  of  the  former  scenes  of  his 
labours.  There  existed  no  jealousy  between  him 
and  tlie  managers  of  Tottenham-court  chapel  and  the 
Tabernacle,  in  which  he  had  so  often  preached,  and 
where  he  had  been  the  means  of  very  numerous  con- 
versions. The  recollection  of  his  early  preaching  in 
these  places  was  cherished  by  him  to  the  end  of  his 
days,  with  a  happy  retrospect  of  the  ease  with  winch 
he  spoke,  and  the  crowds  who  attended  his  ministry. 
In  the  last  sermon  he  ever  preached,  delivered  on 
March  31,  1S33,  he  said,  "  Oh  !  my  dear  brethren,  I 
almost  wish  to  be  made  young  again  ;  if  I  could  but 
see  such  days,  as  when  I  first  came  and  preached  at 
Tottenham-court  chapel,  and  was  in  the  habit  of 
preaching  in  the  streets  and  lanes  for  want  of  room. 
Oh  !  how  I  love  to  recollect  what  I  then  felt." 

When  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  entered  upon  his  residence 
in  St.  George's  Fields,  they  wore  an  aspect  far  differ- 
ent from  their  present  appearance.  AH  about  him,  es- 
pecially between  his  house  and  the  Westminster  road, 
was  nothing  but  a  marshy  swamp,  and  the  turnpike 
gate  which  now  opens  upon  it,  near  the  house  of  bishop 
Bonner,  was  called  the  Marsh  Gate.  Here  he  was  con- 
tent to  live  and  labour  for  the  Lord,  and  to  be  the  scorn 
and  ridicule  of  the  world,  for  the  sake  of  promoting, 
by  what  he  conscientiously  believed  to  be  the  most  effi- 
cient means,  the  spread  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 


148  SIR  RICHARD  HILL. 

At  this  period  of  his  hfe,  thoiig'h  opposed  by  innu- 
merable enemies,  and  treated  with  unsparing  censure 
by  a  portion  of  the  press,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  many 
comforts.  Sir  Richard  Hill,  now  the  head  of  his 
family,  was  a  frequent  attendant  at  Surry  chapel,  and 
a  kindred  spirit  even  in  his  lively  and  witty  turn  of 
mind.  While  one  brother  was  preaching  daily  in  all 
places,  and  at  all  times,  the  other  was  not  ashamed 
to  quote  in  the  senate,  from  what  he  denominated  "  a 
now-a-days  obsolete  book  called  the  bible,"  nor  ever 
lost  an  opportunity  of  publicly  avowing  his  reli- 
gious opinions.  His  house  also  was  open  to  the  lead- 
ing revivalists  of  the  day ;  and  he  was  one  of  the 
very  few  who  had  the  courage,  in  the  midst  of  the 
rank  and  fashion  with  which  his  situation,  style  of  liv- 
ing, and  fortune,  surrounded  him,  to  declare  that  he 
was  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  of  its 
faithful  and  despised  ministers. 

The  year  after  he  opened  Surry  chapel,  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  had  not  only  the  satisfaction  to  see  his  elder 
brother  again  returned  to  parliament  as  the  represen- 
tative of  the  county  of  Salop,  but  his  brother,  Mr. 
John  Hill,  was  also  elected  member  for  the  town  of 
Shrewsbury.  He  continued  to  sit  in  parliament  till 
the  year  1796,  when  the  borough  was  contested  with 
him  by  his  relation,  the  honourable  William  Hill,  now 
Lord  Berwick,  who  succeeded,  and  was  returned  to- 
gether with  AVilliam  Pulteney,  Esq.  In  1805,  how- 
ever, Mr.  John  Hill  was  re-elected  for  Shrewsbury, 
and  Sir  Richard  for  the  county.  On  the  dissolution 
in  1806,  they  both  retired  together  from  parliament. 

At  this  time  also,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  many 
churches  open  to  him,  both  in  London  and  in  the  coun- 
try; but  the  two  perhaps  in  which  he  most  delighted 
werethatofMr.Cadogan,*Reading,andSt.Alkmond's, 

*  In  a  letter  addressed  to  a  near  relative  of  mine  Mr.  Cadogan 
■writes-^"  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  Mrs.  Cadogan  is  a  great 
deal  better,  and  in  full  expectation  of  seeing  you  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hill  on  Tuesday  next.  Pray  give  my  love  to  them,  and  tell 


SPREAD  OP  INFIDELITY.  149 

Shrewsbury.  De  Coiircy,  the  minister  of  the  latter, 
was  originally  a  proteg'e  of  John  Wesley,  and  is  high- 
ly commended  by  him  in  a  letter  to  Lady  Maxwell; 
but  he  had  withdrawn  himself  from  Wesley's  advice 
and  Arminian  doctrine.  He  was  a  man  of  great  power 
as  a  preacher,  and  was  made  very  useful. 

Just  at  the  period  which  now  engages  our  attention, 
it  is  well  known  that  the  plague  of  infidelity,  which 
had  infected  a  great  part  of  the  continent  of  Europe, 
became  an  awful  moral  epidemic,  destroying  the  pre- 
sent comlbrt,  and  blighting  the  best  prospects  of  thou- 
sands in  this  country.  Satan  seemed  to  be  gaining  a 
direful  ascendancy ;  and  but  for  the  few  lights  scatter- 
ed here  and  there  in  our  land,  who  upheld  the  scrip- 
tural purity  of  the  church's  doctrines,  we  should,  to 
all  human  appearance,  have  been  involved  in  the  same 
gloom,  and  horrified  with  the  same  appalling  deeds  of 
darkness  that  desolated  a  neighbouring  nation.  God, 
however,  in  mercy  provided  tor  us  an  antidote  to  these 
evils;  and  if  ever  there  was  an  illustration  of  the 
truth,  that  the  holi/  seed  is  the  substance  and  bulwark 
of  a  land,  it  was  in  our  own  case.  In  London  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  kingdom,  there  were  here  and  there 
planted  men,  who  lifted  up  the  standard  of  the  cross 
against  the  enemies  of  the  truth ;  and  some  of  them 
lived  to  witness  the  wide-spreading  influence  of  those 
doctrines  which  they  had  fearlessly  inculcated  in  days 
of  error,  ignorance,  and  unbelief  Full  homage  has 
been  paid  to  their  memory,  and  their  works  are  fol- 
lowing them. 

In  the  midst  of  his  other  engagements,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  never  forgot  his  flock  at  Wotton,  nor  his  faithful 
followers  at  Bristol  and  in  Wales,  where  his  journeys 
were  eminently  prosperous.  In  the  principality, 
wherever  he  went,  he  was  followed  by  multitudes. 
He  would  seize  the  opportunity  of  the  noontide  rest 

them  that  we  shall  depend  upon  seeing  them,  and  that  I  shall  givQ 
out  the  Re\-.  Rowland  Hill  to  preach  on  Tuesday  evening."  Thig 
letter  was  dated  April  14th,  1789. 

13* 


150  WELSH  SERMONS  IN  SURRY  CHAPEL. 

from  labour,  to  gather  around  him  the  peasantry  of 
the  mountahis ;  and  in  the  evenings  of  summer, 
thousands  would  congregate  on  the  side  of  some  ro- 
mantic hill,  after  a  walk  of  many  miles  by  rugged  and 
steep  paths.  He  could  not  speak  Welsh,  but  those  in 
that  country  who  can  understand  English  are  exceed- 
ingly fond  of  hearing  preaching  in  our  tongue.  The 
Welsh  preachers  will  tell  us  their  language  is  the 
most  expressive  in  the  world,  and  from  its  being  per- 
fect^  there  is  no  doubt  it  was  that  which  our  first  pa- 
rents spoke  in  paradise  !  Still  the  Welsh  are  so  per- 
verse^  that  they  delight  in  hearing  English  preach- 
ing, for  which  they  were,  on  one  or  two  occasions, 
severely  and  quaintly  rebuked  by  their  famous  Howel 
Harris.  Much,  however,  as  they  like  English  in 
Wales,  when  in  England  they  delight  in  the  accents 
of  their  native  tongue  ;  and  when  any  eminent  Welsh 
minister  happened  to  be  in  London,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
used  to  invite  him  to  preach  a  Welsh  sermon  in  Surry 
chapel.  On  such  occasions  hundreds  of  natives  of  the 
principality,  who  were  employed  in  the  gardens  near 
the  metropolis,  would  assemble :  and  the  numbers  not 
unfrequently  amounted  to  a  congregation  of  two  thou- 
sand, forming  a  very  interesting  spectacle. 

While  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  thus  used  every  means  in 
his  power  to  spread  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  at 
home,  his  zeal  was  not  confined  within  the  limits  of 
his  native  country.  He  desired  to  lend  his  aid  in 
enlightening  the  whole  world,  and  grieved  over  the 
chains  and  darkness  of  the  poor  negro  slave.  A 
proof  of  this  is  to  be  seen  in  the  following  letter  to 
him,  from  a  pious  and  devoted  Moravian  missionary, 
written  long  before  the  institution  of  those  societies 
which  will  ever  form  the  brightest  jewels  in  Eng- 
land's shining  diadem  of  fame  and  honour.  It  shall 
be  given  in  its  original  broken  English  ;  and  will  be 
read  with  admiration  of  the  simplicity  and  piety  of  its 
author,  and  of  the  account  he  gives  of  the  result  of 
his  labours  amongst  the  negroes  in  Antigua. 


LETTER  OF  PETER  BROWN.  151 

Antigua,  July  the  27,  1785. 

My  VERY  DEAR  SIR,  AND  BROTHER  IN  ChRIST, 

I  resivet  your  very  kind  letter  by  Captain  Key- 
ser.  I  shame  myself  for  that  houner  you  wrote  to 
me,  because  I  am  of  the  lower  sorte  peoblc  in  the 
world,  and  even  a  German  man,  which  cannot  speak 
proper  English  (tho'  the  neger  understand  me.)  As 
you  then,  worthy  sir,  has  wrote  me  such  a  feeling 
letter,  and  with  such  a  idnd  impression,  so  then  1  will 
make  my  poor  answer  to  you  so  good  I  can,  and  you 
will  be  so  kind  and  except  of  it.  I  am  now  here  more 
than  16  year,  sendet  from  my  brcthern  callet  the  Uni- 
tas  Fratrum,  from  Amerika ;  callet  Bethlehem  the 
place  where  I  came  to  the  congrigation,  and  I  am  now 
more  than  30  year  with  the  brethern.  A  smal  be- 
ginning was  made  here  since  the  year  1759,  but  not 
much  progress  whas  at  this  time,  while  several  of  our 
brethern  diet.  But  tlien  as  our  dearest  Lord  has 
given  me  the  gi'ace  to  be  amongst  them,  so  my  doing 
was  nothing,  but  the  sufering  and  death  of  our  dear 
Seviour,  and  what  it  has  cost  him  to  redeem  us  from 
death,  devil,  hell,  and  sin  ;  so  as  I  have  found  forgive- 
ness of  my  sins,  and  grace  in  the  wounds  of  Jesus. 
This  then  has  enderet*  in  there  hearts,  and  Ijroke 
there  strong  and  brass  hearts,  and  has  brought  them 
to  the  knowledge  that  have  the  souls  do.t  which  our 
dear  Lord  and  Seviour  has  redeemet  with  great  pain 
and  smart.  This  has  stirrt  up  there  sinful  hearts, 
and  came  changet  more  and  more,  and  so  the  poor 
blak  became  so  eager  to  hear  the  word  of  God,  and 
to  hear  from  our  dear  Seviour  ;  and  so  as  many  as 
come  obdient  to  the  gospel  so  they  become  Christians, 
loving  him  who  has  redeemet  us,  comen  obiedens  to 
there  owners,  and  faithful  peoble  in  all  respect,  who 
thus  truly  belief  in  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

When  I  came  here  16  years  ago,  there  was  about 
14  baptiset  negero,  but  since  this  time  it  has  increase! 

*  Entered.  +  That  the  souls  do  have. 


152  LETTER  OP  PETER  BROWN 


ill  baptism  do*  3,000  negro  by  si  to  what  is  baptiset  by 
the  enmisterst  of  the  English  church.  There  num- 
ber is  even  larch,  but  them  what  is  baptiset  by  us  they 
have  there  pertikler  [instruction]  to  speak  faifatlyt 
witli  them.  The  missioners  which  is  placet  here  with 
me,  the  man  with  the  negro  man,  and  the  missioners 
wifes  with  the  negro  women,  and  that  is  a  great  work, 
and  that  is  every  month,  one  month  with  the  baptiset 
ones,  and  the  other  month  with  the  candidates  for 
baptism,  and  a  great  many  learners  which  comes  and 
goes  tliat  we  callet  new  peoble.  By  them  we  only 
see  how  the  grace  of  our  dear  Lord  tlius  afFectet  their 
heart,  and  wait  to  be  comfortet.  Others  even  who 
comes  to  the  meeting,  and  has  not  done  with  the 
world  and  the  sin,  they  go  away  again  from  us.  So 
by  the  negro  we  can  say,  the  kingdom  of  God  is  like 
a  net  which  is  cast  in  the  sea,  and  all  sorte  fish  it 
cadges§  good  and  bat,  so  the  good  ones  is  to  be  savet 
and  the  others  thrown  away.  Otherwise  we  have 
most  every  evinning  meetings,  and  so  on  Sunday  forll 
and  afternoon,  fornoon  is  preaching,  and  in  the  after- 
noon there  are  the  quarter  meeting  we  callet,  first  the 
new  peoble,  then  the  candidats  for  baptism,  and  then 
the  baptiset.  Then  every  meeting  has  there  own  in- 
struction such  as  is  suitable  to  them,  them  with  each 
class  muss  speak  to  their  circumstances  that  is  comen 
to  the  class  where  they  are  in. 

I  have  wrotel^  your  letter  to  the  baptiset  negro,  and 
told  them  how  a  gentelman  in  London,  who  has  a 
larger  congregation  as  we  are,  has  such  an  esteem  for 
the  work  of  God  in  Antigua  amongst  the  poor  negro, 
and  thus  pray  for  us  [that]  they  may  love  God  from 
all  there  heart,  and  all  there  soul  and  mind.  So  then 
they  sigh.  I  asket  them  if  I  shall  salute  this  good 
gentelman  from  them,  and  if  they  will  pray  for  him 
likewise  ?  So  they  all  with  one  voice  saying,  yes, 
master,  give  our  hearty  love  to  that  good  gentelman  : 

*  To    t  Ministers,    t  Faithfully.    §  Catches.     II  Fore.    IT  Read.. 


A  MORAVIAN  MISSIONARY  IN  ANTIGUA.  153 

we  also  will  pray  for  him  so  good  we  can.  It  was 
indeed  a  moving  amongst  them. 

Certainly,  dear  sir  and  brother,  when  the  grace  of 
our  dear  Lord  changet  there  heart,  then  they  become 
comeUnes*  unto  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  you  write ; 
and  when  we  seem  them  and  feel  how  the  grace  of 
our  Lord  works  on  there  heart,  and  in  the  meeting, 
we  faifatly  speaking,  see  the  tear  trinlding  down  from 
there  sheekes,  for  longing  to  love  our  dear  Seviour, 
who  soferet  and  diet  for  us — when  we  see  this  and 
feels  this  from  them,  then  we  cannot  be  otherwise  but 
love  them,  and  spend  there  life  with  them  ;  but  they 
are  a  stiff-nakett  people,  and  great  hipocrites,  but  the 
grace  of  our  dear  Lord  has  meltet  many  hearts,  and 
that  comforts  us  in  our  work. 

You  writes  from  your  hounable  B.  in-law,  if  we  at 
this  site  keep  meeting?  I  have  inquiret  by  gentel- 
mans  hear  who  knows  Mr.  Tudway's  estats,  and  that 
is  on  Barham  town  and  tliereabouts  ;  we  have  not  as 
yet  kept  meeting  on  this  site,  neither  we  have  there. 
This  time  we  have  two  congrigations  here,  one  St. 
John's  which  whas  the  first  and  largest,  and  the  other 
Gracehill,  which  is  a  of-spring+  of  St.  John's,  near 

Fallmuth, ten  miles  from  here  to  south  east,  then 

to  south-west,  where  is  near  900  baptiset  people,  there 
we  should  lay  on  the  3ter§  congregation,  which  is 
about  6  miles  from  here.  We  have  first  our  mind  on 
2 — 3  akker  of  land  there  from  a  gentelman  of  his  es- 
tate, but  he  resides  in  London,  a  young  gentelman. 
He  was  expectet  out  this  year,  but  is  not  come,  he 
has  not  quite  his  age,  his  name  is  Francis  Fry,  but  is 
expectet  the  next  year  out,  and  if  please  God  that 
good  gentelman's  heart  will  grant  us  this  favour,  with 
a  pease  of  land  from  his  estate,  God  will  bless  him 
for  it,  while  it  is  for  God's  sake,  and  the  poor  negro 
slaves.  Then  I  must  build  again,  and  if  our  dear 
Lord  spare  me  my  life,  and  I  am  well,  I  shall  be  glad 

•  Comeliness,         +  Stiff-necked.  t  Offspring.        §  Third. 


154  LETTER  OF  PETER  BROWN. 

for  it.  If  then  another  door  shall  be  openet,  and  the 
hounerable  Tudway  will  help  us  at  this  site,  wliich 
we  callet  the  windward  site,  that  is  to  the  eastert,  we 
shall  be  veiy  thankfull.  But,  dear  sir  and  brother, 
we  are  poor  peoble,  we  have  nothing  in  this  world, 
our  time  we  have  here  we  spendet  to  the  poor  negro, 
and  we  are  providet  by  our  brethren  at  home,  for  all 
our  necessary  matters  outwardly,  and  when  we  ever 
lay  on  a  new  place,  our  dear  brethren  at  home,  that  is 
m  Germany  and  Amerika,  supscribe  by  collection 
from  the  congregation  every  where  for  the  Headen 
missions,  and  by  them  we  are  supportet  for  building 
and  our  outwarte  wants. 

Now  then,  worthy  belovet  sir  and  brother,  what 
you  wish  in  the  end  of  your  letter,  that  all  glory  and 
thanksgiving  will  be  given  to  God  and  the  lamb,  and 
that  out  of  all  nation  shall  be  gatherith  together,  and 
shall  praise  and  thank  him  for  ever.  That  the  lamb 
of  God  has  taken  away  all  sin,  and  has  washt  out 
garment  white  in  his  own  blood.  I  join  with  you  in 
this,  and  hope  to  see  us  on  that  happy  place  for  ever, 
and  ever,  amen.  Though  unknown  here,  but  in  spi- 
rit are  one  even  on  earth,  and  therefore  we  love  one 
another  while  he  has  lovet  us  and  gave  his  life,  and 
shet  his  blood  for  us.  Please  to  give  my  humble  re- 
spect to  your  lady,  the  hounerable  Mr.  Tndway  and 
his  lady,  and  all  with  you  who  loves  Jesus  Christ  in 
sincerity,  and  all  well  wishers  and  all  friends  to  the 
gospel,  amen.  So  thus  all  my  fellow  lebrors*  mth 
me,  wliich  works  in  the  vineyard  of  our  I^rd,  and 
the  poor  negro  thus  the  same  with  us,  and  I  am  with 
much  love  and  esteem  to  your  worthy  person,  though 
unknown  to  your  most  afectionate  humble  servant, 
and  poor  brother, 

PETER  BROWN. 

From  the  interest  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  took  in  the 
success  of  this  pious  missionary,  we  may  trace  the 

*  Labourers. 


MISSIONS.  155 

first  movement  towards  the  great  exertions,  which 
he  afterwards  made,  to  send  the  gospel  to  the  remo- 
test regions  of  the  earth.  The  wonderful  efforts  of 
Brown  in  Antigua  had  reached  his  ears,  and  excited 
an  increased  love  for  the  missionary  cause.  Anti- 
gua, as  is  evident  from  his  Village  Dialogues,  was 
long  and  often  in  his  thoughts ;  and  indeed  the  nu- 
merous conversions  and  zeal  of  the  poor  negroes  in 
that  island,  were  calculated  to  awaken,  in  every  pious 
breast,  a  fervent  longing  for  their  souls,  and  pity  for 
their  wrongs.  Towards  enlarging  their  place  of  wor- 
ship, the  poor  slaves,  at  each  evening  meeting,  brought 
stones  and  other  materials  with  them,  and  worked 
diligently  at  the  task  of  providing  more  extensive  ac- 
commodation for  the  worship  of  their  God  :  cheer- 
fully completing  their  toil  by  voluntary  labours  at 
the  close  of  those  which  were  forced  on  them  during 
the  day.  By  accounts  such  as  these,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill's  benevolent  mind  was  stirred  up  by  degrees  to 
extensive  exertions  on  behalf  of  heathen  nations  ;  and 
by  his  zeal  and  energy  at  home,  he  became  one  of 
the  most  unvarying  holders  of  the  cord  that  support- 
ed  the  machine,  in  which  the  first  missionaries  of 
the  present  day  descended  into  the  depths  of  the  un- 
explored, idolatrous,  and  wretched  recesses  of  the 
heathen  world. 

It  has  been  often  objected  to  the  zealous  promoters 
of  missions,  that  they  aid  them  at  the  expense  of  those 
who  have  a  prior  claim  to  sympathy  in  their  own 
land.  It  is  an  unjust  accusation.  Those  who  shine 
brightest  in  their  own  sphere  reflect  the  most  light  to 
a  distance  ;  and  indiflerence  to  the  cause  of  the  hea- 
then is  generally  accompanied  by  negligence  at  home. 
No  one  cared  more  for  his  people  and  fellow  country- 
men than  Mr.  Rowland  Hill ;  and  this  he  proved  by 
indefatigable  exertions  while  residing  with  his  differ- 
ent flocks,  and  by  unceasing  endeavours  to  obtain, 
when  absent,  such  supplies  as  would  administer  unto 
them  in  all  diligence  and  gospel  sincerity.     Wlien 


156  LETTER  FROM  MR.  VENN. 

writing,  soon  after  the  erection  of  his  chapel  in  Lon- 
don, to  Mr.  Burder,  he  tells  him,  "  the  poor  sheep 
left  in  the  country  are  near  my  heart,"  and  begs  him 
to  occupy  his  place  while  he  visits  them.  He  also 
describes  himself,  in  his  droll  manner,  as  "  rector  of 
Surry  chapel,  vicar  of  Wotton-under-edge,  and  curate 
of  all  the  fields,  commons,  &c.  throughout  England 
and  Wales."  One  of  his  most  favourite  substitutes, 
when  away,  was  Mr.  Venn,  of  Yelling  ;*  whose  as- 
sistance he  the  more  valued  on  account  of  his  being  a 
beneficed  clergyman.  Mr.  Venn,  however,  in  occupy- 
ing Surry  chapel  pulpit,  forgot  the  due  observance  of 
ecclesiastical  discipline  and  order.  He  felt,  no  doubt, 
that  the  doctrines  were  those  of  his  own  communion, 
and  the  service  the  same.  Still  it  was  an  act  of  irre- 
gularity contrary  to  canonical  rules,  and  therefore  not 
advisable,  even  in  those  days  ;  but  he  was  a  man  of 
admirable  piety  and  zeal.  The  following  letter  from 
him  will  much  interest  those  who  view  with  delight 
the  spread  of  religion  in  the  university  of  Cambridge, 
and  the  inconceivable  blessing  that  has  long  accom- 
panied Mr.  Simeon's  ministry  there. 

Yellifig,  Jan.  31,  1786. 
Dear  Sir, 

About  a  fortnight  since,  I  received  yours,  dated 
the  21st  of  December.  Much  am  I  indebted  to  my 
Christian  brother  for  remembering  me  before  the 
throne  of  grace.  The  God  who  healeth  hath  heard 
their  prayers  for  me,  and  I  am  in  such  health,  that 
provided  I  can  get  a  supply,  and  it  may  be  agreeable 
to  you,  I  purpose  making  the  experiment  of  preach- 
ing for  you  at  Surry  chapel  in  April,  beginning  the 
Sunday  after  Easter,  for  eight  Sundays.  But  I  shall 
not  be  able  to  do  more  than  preach  twice  on  the  sab- 
bath ;  not  on  a  Tuesday.  If  it  please  our  adorable 
Master  that  I  come,  I  will  be  sure  not  to  overwalk 

♦  The  author  of  the  Complete  Duty  of  Man. 


LETTER  OF  MR.  VENN.  157 

myself,  and  take  the  best  care  I  can  not  to  exceed 
either  in  length,  or  in  exertion  of  voice.  At  home 
you  may  suppose  there  are  strong  objections  against 
making  the  attempt ;  but  were  I  sure  to  suffer  in 
body,  if  your  hands  in  the  glorious  work  may  be 
strengthened,  and  opportunity  given  for  you  to  spread 
the  gospel,  or  visit  and  confirm  those  who  have  re- 
ceived it,  I  hope  I  should  not  shun  making  the  trial. 
If  it  please  God  my  brother  Gambler  is  alive,  I  shall 
be  so  much  at  his  house,  and  my  son's-in-law,  and 
other  friends,  that  I  shall  seldom  be  a  lodger  at  your 
house. 

You  \vi\\  be  agreeably  surprised  when  I  tell  you  I 
preached  in  exchange  for  dear  Simeon  at  Trinity,  to 
many  of  the  gown,  and  afterwards  in  the  evening  to 
a  company  at  Mr.  Musgrave's,  and  on  Wednesday 
evening  at  your  old  friend  Mrs.  Bunn's.  Indeed  there 
is  a  pleasant  prospect  at  Cambridge.  Mr.  Simeon's 
character  shines  brightly.  He  grows  in  humility,  is 
fervent  in  spirit,  and  very  bountiful  and  loving. 
Isaac  Milner*  kept  an  act  in  the  schools,  Dec.  15th 
last,  on  justification  by  faith  only.  His  thesis  was 
forty  minntes,  and  admirable.  The  pit  could  not 
contain  the  masters  of  arts,  and  a  greater  number 
there  was  of  students  than  has  been  seen  there  for 
years.  I  went  over  on  purpose  ;  and  I  doubt  not 
good  will  come  from  it.  Jonathan  Edwards's  works 
are  now  called  for  ;  and,  what  is  remarkable  indeed, 
the  professor  of  law  (Dr.  Jowett)  and  the  three  first 
mathematicians  in  the  university  confessedly,  Miner, 
Coulthurst,  and  Parish,  are  all  on  the  side  of  the 
truth.  Lift  up  your  prayer,  that  they  may  feel,  and 
live,  and  work,  for  Christ,  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 
There  are  twelve  students  promising  to  come  forth 
in  the  service  of  our  Lord.  I  have  heard  also  of  an 
excellent  minister  near  Chester.  His  name,  Nichol- 
son.    When  the  bishop  ordained  him  (though  he  was 

*  Late  dean  of  Carlisle,  master  of  Clueen's  college,  Cambridge, 
and  continuer  of  the  History  of  the  Church,  begun  by  his  brother. 

14 


158  LETTER  OF  MR.  VENN.       MR.  SIMEOhf. 

never  at  college)  he  was  so  much  superior  in  scho- 
larship, and  his  knowledge  of  divinity  to  the  rest,  that 
the  bishop  took  great  notice  of  him,  and  when  alone, 
told  him,  "  I  have  had  many  complaints  of  you  as  a 
Methodist ;  but  go  on  and  prosper,  and  God  bless 
you." 

Mrs.  V.  joins  with  me  in  wishing  Mrs.  Hill  and 
yourself  all  increase  in  spiritual  blessings. 

From  yours  sincerely  in  Christ, 

H.  VENN. 

To  add  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  delight  at  these 
tidings,  Mr.  Venn  again  writes,  in  a  letter  dated  "  Yel- 
ling, March  23d,  17S6."  "  On  Sunday  last,  Mr.  Si- 
meon and  I  exchanged.  There  were  more  than  twenty 
of  the  gown  to  hear.  In  the  evening  I  spoke  to 
eighty  in  a  house.  The  prayers  offered  up  for  our 
poor  university  are  regarded.  Two  of  the  first  amongst 
the  bachelors  of  this  year  promise  well.  So  great  is 
their  character,  that  instead  of  ridicule  and  spiteflil 
sneers,  the  profane  youth  choose  to  avoid  the  subject 
of  religion,  lest  they  should  be  fairly  out-argued.  I 
have  now  been  twice  at  Cambridge,  and  both  times 
have  had  my  heart  much  warmed  with  what  I  have 
seen  and  heard.  How  delightful  the  prospect,  that 
when  we  old  and  worn  out  servants  and  soldiers  shall 
be  called  out  of  the  field,  others  are  entering  in,  who 
will  do  valiantly  under  the  banner  of  our  clear  gene- 
ral, who  has  died  for  us.  Mr.  Simeon's  light  shines 
brighter  and  brighter.  He  is  highly  esteemed,  and 
exceedingly  despised  ;  almost  adored  by  some ;  by 
others  abhorred.  O  what  numbers,  if  the  Lord  will, 
shall  come  out  from  Cambridge  in  a  few  years,  to 
proclaim  the  glad  tidings  !" 

Such  news  as  this  would  deeply  aftect  him  to 
whom  it  thus  came.  The  gospel  he  preached  in  the 
university  to  the  poor,  despised,  and  humble  follow- 
ers of  his  steps,  now  influencing  the  lives,  opinions, 
and  characters  of  the  first  men  in  Cambrido'e  !  What 


MR.  SIMEON.  159 

an  assurance  would  this  afford  him,  of  the  reality  of 
the  impressions  of  his  younger  days  !  He  had  al- 
ways the  highest  respect  for  the  characters  of  those 
individuals  mentioned  by  Mr.  Venn,  and  spoke  of 
Mr.  Simeon's  invaluable  labours  with  the  sincerest 
delight,  though  he  well  knew  that  he  disapproved  all 
irregularity  in  a  clergyman's  administrations.  In- 
deed, there  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that  the  obser- 
vance of  order,  which  has  been  so  judiciously  re- 
garded by  Mr.  Simeon  and  liis  followers  at  Cam- 
bridge, has  tended  greatly  to  promote  the  influence 
of  numbers  of  the  zealous  clergy,  who  are  now  so 
vigilantly  and  successfully  defending  the  best  interests 
of  the  church.  On  one  occasion,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill, 
with  his  usual  delicacy  of  feeling,  refused  to  preach 
in  a  dissenting  place  of  worship  at  Cambridge,  lest 
he  should  appear  in  any  way  to  interfere  with  the 
course  so  wisely  pursued  by  Mr.  Simeon,  whose  m- 
calculable  usefulness  will  never  be  fully  appreciated, 
till  the  day  in  which  the  unostentatious  followers  of 
the  Lamb  shall  be  rewarded  in  the  presence  of  the 
assembled  universe. 


160  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 


The  Sunday  schools  attached  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
chapels  were  amongst  the  earliest  established  in  this 
country.  The  one  at  Surry  chapel  commenced  in 
1786,  and  was  cordially  supported  by  him  during  his 
whole  life.  Its  teachers  were  selected  from  the  most 
pious,  active,  and  intelligent  members  of  the  congre- 
gation, who  conducted  its  affairs  with  the  spirit  and 
faith  of  prayer.  Those  who  were  engaged  in  that  in- 
teresting work  of  Christian  love,  will  ever  remember 
how  he  used  to  come  into  the  school-room  on  a  Sun- 
day afternoon,  to  converse  with  the  teachers,  and  en- 
courage or  rebuke  the  children,  as  the  case  required. 
The  silence  which  took  place  on  his  entrance,  was  not 
that  of  uneasiness  or  impatience  at  his  presence,  but  a 
pleasing  expectation  that  some  word  of  comfort  or  ad- 
vice would  fall  from  his  lips,  to  refresh  and  stimulate 
them  in  their  holy  occupation.  Mr.  Hill's  mode  of 
encouraging  the  children  who  were  distinguished  for 
their  diligence  and  good  conduct,was  singularly  happy, 
and  seldom  failed  to  leave  a  salutary  impression  on 
their  minds.  His  power  of  reproof  to  offenders  was 
extraordinary  ;  few  persons  could  bear  his  look  and 
voice  of  censure,  which  was  seldom,  and  most  reluc- 
tantly called  forth.  When  some  of  the  children,  who 
had  been  regular  in  their  attendance  at  the  school, 
grew  up,  and  became  useful  men  in  the  world,  he 
would  often  speak  of  their  good  behaviour  in  youth — 
"  Aye,  I  remember  him,  he  was  always  a  nice  lad." 
He  was  fond  of  asking — "  Have  you  read  Ellis's 
book  on  the  South  sea  islands  ? — oh  !  worthy,  sensi- 


LETTER  OF  COWPER,  THE  POET.  161 

ble,  good  creature — he  was  a  teacher  in  our  Sunday 
schools ;  he  is  an  honour  to  us."  Several  missionaries 
were  trained  in  the  same  place,  and  many,  who  were 
themselves  instructed  there,  became  instructors  of  the 
succeeding-  generation,  leading  others  to  the  source 
of  their  own  usefulness  and  comfort.  At  Wotton,  as 
well  as  in  London,  the  same  work  went  on,  and  his 
school  became  a  blessing  to  the  place  and  neighbour- 
hood. When  there,  a  bell  rang  on  the  Sunday  morn- 
ing before  breakfast,  to  summon  the  inmates  of  his 
house  into  the  midst  of  the  teachers  and  children, 
when  his  family  prayer  was  offered  up  amongst  them, 
with  an  indescribable  unction  and  fervour.  Those 
who  have  never  heard  him  pray,  cannot  imagine  the 
sublimity  with  which  he  engaged  in  communion  with 
God,  or  his  striking  conceptions  of  the  infinite  holi- 
ness of  the  divine  nature,  and  of  his  owm  worthless- 
ness ;  he  seemed,  before  man,  to  be  invested  with  all 
the  dignity  of  the  saint,  while  he  was  humbled  in  dust 
and  ashes  before  the  Most  High.  A  remarkable 
proof  of  his  power  was  the  stilhiess  of  the  children 
while  he  prayed :  some  of  whom  were  converted  at  a 
very  early  age,  whose  characters  he  has  beautifully 
drawn  in  his  "  Token  for  children."  His  hymns  for 
children  are  very  simple  and  beautiful.  The  first 
edition  of  them  was  corrected  and  improved  by  the 
poet  Cowper,  as  appears  from  the  following  letter : — 

Westoji  Underwood,  March  29th,  1790. 
My  dear  Sir, 

The  moment  when  you  ceased  to  be  incog.  I  ought 
to  have  written  you  at  least  a  few  lines  of  apology 
for  the  liberties  I  had  taken  with  your  hynms,  but 
being  extremely  busy  at  that  time,  and  hoping  that 
you  would  be  so  charitable  as  to  pardon  the  omission, 
I  desired  Mr.  Bull  to  be  my  proxy,  charging  him  to 
make  my  excuses,  and  to  assure  you  that  I  was  per- 
fectly satisfied  with  your  making  any  alterations  that 
you  might  see  to  be  necessary  in  my  text.  If  any 
14* 


163  HYMNS  FOR  CHILDREN. 

thing  fell  from  my  pen  that  seemed  to  countenance 
the  heresy  of  universal  redemption^  you  did  well  to 
displace  it,  for  it  contradicted  the  scripture  and  be- 
lied me. 

I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  little  volumes 
which  I  received  safe  on  Saturday ;  and  because  I  sup- 
pose that  your  end  will  be  best  answered  by  dispersion, 
if  I  should  have  occasion  for  half  a  dozen  more,  will 
order  them  from  your  bookseller  without  scruple. 

I  am,  my  dear  sir,  with  much  respect,  and  with 
Mrs.  Unwin's  compliments, 

Your  affectionate  humble  servant, 

Wm,  COWPER. 

Should  you  want  me  on  any  similar  occasion  here- 
after, I  am  always  at  your  disposal. 

Rev.  Rowland  Hill. 

We  have  now  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  words 
of  the  alteration  mentioned  in  this  letter.  That  the 
fundamental  principles  of  both  these  good  men  were 
Calvinistic,  generally  spealdng,  is  well  known ;  but  the 
term  j)articularrede7nption^m  opposition  io^iniversal 
redemption,  was  never  made  use  of  by  Mr.  Hill.  He 
offered  Christ  freely  to  all,  telling  them  at  the  same 
time,  that  by  nature  the  withered  hand  of  man  was 
unable  to  receive  the  gift  of  salvation,  until  restored 
by  his  power  who  commanded  him  to  stretch  it  forth. 

The  following  short  hymn  is  a  fair  specimen  both 
of  the  style  and  doctrine  of  those  he  composed  for 
children : — 

A  PRAYER  FOR  A  GRACIOUS  MIND. 

Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  God :  Matt.  v.  3. 

Dear  Jesus,  let  an  infant  claim 

The  favour  to  adore  thy  name; 

Thou  wast  so  meek,  that  babes  might  be  ' 

Encourag'd  to  draw  near  to  thee. 

My  gracious  Saviour,  I  believe 
Thou  canst  a  little  child  receive  ; 
Thy  tender  love  for  us  is  free, 
And  why  not  love  poor  sinful  me  1 


A  HAPPY  DEATH.       ILLNESS  OF  MR.  VENN.      163 

Then  to  a  child,  dear  Lord,  impart 
An  humble,  meek,  and  lowly  heart: 
O  cleanse  me  by  thy  precious  blood. 
And  fill  me  with  the  love  of  God. 

Tho'  oft  I  sin,  yet  save  me  still, 
And  make  me  love  thy  sacred  will; 
Each  day  prepare  me  by  thy  grace. 
To  meet  thee  and  behold  thy  face. 

Ill  the  spring  of  1790,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  made 
another  preaching  tour  in  Wales,  and  his  old  friend 
Captain  Joss  came  into  Gloucestershire,  to  supply  his 
place  while  absent.  To  notice,  however,  in  detail  his 
preaching  journeys  at  this  period,  would  only  be  a 
repetition  of  events  precisely  similar  to  those  already 
described.  Year  after  year  they  were  much  the  same, 
except  that  his  character  rose,  and  opposition  to  him 
rapidly  diminished.  Captain  Joss,  in  his  reply  to  Mr. 
Hill's  application  for  his  services  while  in  Wales, 
comforted  him  by  an  account  of  the  happy  death  of 
an  eminently  pious  female.  He  tells  him  that  just  at 
the  last,  she  said,  "  put  by  the  curtain  ;"  which  was 
accordingly  drawn  aside,  and  the  beams  of  the  sun 
coming  foil  into  the  room  and  on  her  bed,  she  re- 
marked— "  thirty  and  four  years  have  I  known  the 
Lord,  and  can  now  no  more  doubt  of  his  eternal  love 
to  me  an  unworthy  creature,  than  I  can  doubt  of  the 
shining  of  the  sim,  which  I  now  see  and  feel."  She 
uttered  only  a  few  more  words,  full  of  faith,  and  then 
departed  to  those  realms  of  joy,  of  which  God  and 
the  Lamb  are  the  sun,  the  temple,  and  the  glory. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1791,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill's  valued  friend,  Mr.  Venn  of  Yelling,  found  him- 
self unequal  to  the  task  of  continuing  his  attendance 
at  Surry  chapel.  The  author  of  the  "  W^hole  Duty 
of  Man"  had  well  learned  one  part  of  it — resignation 
to  the  divine  will — which  he  thus  expresses  in  a  let- 
ter to  Mr.  Rov.dand  Hill,  dated  Yelling,  January  21st, 
1791. — "  My  very  dear  brother,  I  write  to  you  when 
just  recovered  from  a  gentle  stroke  of  the  palsy,  wliich 
prevented  me  for  three  Simdays  from  speaking.    This 


164  EXTRAORDINARY  CONVERSIONS. 

was  beyond  expectation — though  now  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  do  my  own  little  work  without  an  assistant, 
which  I  have  in  my  eye.  From  hence  you  will  con- 
clude, I  must  give  up  every  thought  of  preaching  for 
my  friends,  and  now  withdraw  from  being  a  servant 
of  the  church,  to  take  care  only  of  my  family  and  my 
own  poor  sinful  soul,  which  will  be  employment 
enough  for  my  impaired  strength  and  faculties.  I 
depend  much  upon  my  praying  friends — they  will  not 
despise  nor  forget  a  poor  broken  vessel,  in  whom 
hath  been  lodged  the  treasure  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus  the  Lord.  Pray  for  my  good  behaviour, 
and  joyful  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  God — may 
pain,  weakness,  contuiement,  solitude,  be  all  borne 
with  great  cheerfulness."  Kow  encouraging  to  see 
aged  and  afflicted  ministers  of  Christ  thus  exhibiting, 
in  their  own  persons,  the  power  and  value  of  the 
truths  they  spent  their  lives  in  enforcing  on  others. 

Among  the  many  results  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
labours  at  this  time  in  London,  none  were  more  re- 
markable than  the  extraordinary  conversions  of  seve- 
ral notorious  infidels  and  persecutors.  Some  of  these 
became  afterwards  zealous  promoters  of  the  cause 
they  once  hated  and  despised.  One  individual,  a 
member  of  an  infidel  club,  came  on  a  Sunday  evening 
into  Surry  chapel,  merely  to  gratify  his  curiosity,  or  to 
ridicule  the  truths  he  heard,  but  returned  home  crying 
for  mercy  and  pardon ;  and  in  a  few  days  after  visited 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  to  inquire  what  he  should  do  to  be 
saved.  He  was  a  man  engaged  in  a  laborious  busi- 
ness, Imt  dedicated  his  few  leisure  hours  to  the  service 
of  God  ;  and  it  is  supposed  that  his  benevolent  exer- 
tions brought  him  to  a  premature,  but  happy  termi- 
nation of  his  life.  Another  man,  a  drunkard,  swearer, 
and  cruel  persecutor  of  his  wife,  who  belonged  to 
Mr.  Wesley's  Society,  received  her  one  evening,  on 
her  return  from  his  chapel,  with  such  kindness  of  man- 
ner, that  she  was  astonished.  He  said,  "  I  have  been 
to  hear  Mr,  Hill ; — I  am  a  sinner  ;  you  were  right,  I 


ANECDOTE.  165 

was  wrong — I  hope  I  shall  never  be  unkind  to  you 
again,  but  that  we  shall  walk  together  in  the  same 
way."  Instances  such  as  these  were  of  frequent  oc- 
currence, in  addition  to  the  numbers  of  the  careless 
and  indifferent,  whom  his  ministry  aroused  from  their 
awful  lethargy.  The  reports  that  were  in  circulation 
of  his  odd  sayings  in  the  pulpit,  brought  not  a  few 
into  his  chapel,  where  they  heard,  instead  of  observa- 
tions to  excite  their  mirth,  an  awakening  appeal  to 
sinners  that  sent  them  as  trembling  and  weeping  pe- 
nitents to  a  throne  of  grace.  Most  of  the  anecdotes 
told  of  his  eccentricities  in  the  pulpit  are  incorrect, 
though  it  is  certain  that  at  times  he  did  illustrate  his 
meaning,  by  introducinginto  his  sermons  what  heoften 
acknowledged  afterwards  he  had  better  have  left  out — 
"  but,"  he  would  add,  "  the  queer  thought  came  into 
my  head,  and  out  it  came,  and  I  could  not  help  it ; 
I  wish  it  had  kept  in  though."  It  almost  always  hap- 
pened, that  whenever  he  had  given  way  to  his  natural 
disposition  for  the  ludicrous,  or  had  been  more  than 
usually  eccentric  in  his  manner,  there  followed  a  low- 
ness  of  spirits,  and  he  then  acknowledged  the  regret 
he  felt,  at  having  been  led  away  by  any  levity  of  mind, 
while  engaged  in  the  solemn  service  of  the  pulpit.  A 
gentleman  of  his  acquaintance  once  met  him  at  Brigh- 
ton, where  he  heard  him  preach  a  sermon,  in  which 
there  was  such  a  mixture  of  the  humorous,  that  the 
congregation  were  excited  by  it  to  a  considerable  de- 
gree of  laughter.  This  was  followed  by  such  an  aw- 
ml  address  to  their  consciences,  and  a  pathos  so  deep 
and  melting,  that  there  was  scarcely  an  individual  pre- 
sent who  did  not  weep.  In  the  evening,  the  conver- 
sation at  the  house  in  which  he  was  visiting  was  of  a 
very  lively  nature.  After  Mr.  Hill  retired,  the  gen- 
tleman before  alluded  to  thought  he  heard  some  one 
in  the  passage,  and  on  going  out,  found  him  at  the 
foot  of  the  stairs.  He  feared  he  was  unwell  ;  but  on 
inquiring  the  reason  of  his  remaining  there,  he  dis- 
covered him  to  be  in  deep  agony  of  mind,  to  which  he 


166  MODES  OF  PREACHING 

gave  vent  in  confessions  of  sorrow  at  having  been  such 
a  trifler,  and  mourned  over  his  unseasonable  drollery 
with  the  simplicity  of  a  child.  Before  he  went  to  his 
room  he  said — "  I  never  wish  to  say  a  single  word  to 
excite  a  smile,  which  would  prevent  an  immediate  ap- 
proach to  God.  in  all  the  solemnity  of  spiritual  prayer." 
The  scene  was  most  affecting,  and  was  a  strildng 
proof  of  his  contrition,  when  he  reflected,  that  by  giv- 
ing way  to  the  natural  sprightliness  of  his  disposition, 
he  might  have  prevented  his  real  usefulness,  or  have 
forgotten  for  an  instant  the  character  of  a  messenger 
of  the  gospel. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  a  great  observer  of  the  dif- 
ferent modes  of  preaching,  and  once  drew  up,  in  his 
peculiar  style,  a  string  of  characteristics  of  the  various 
kinds  of  pulpit  orators.     He  thus  describes  them : 

Bold  Manner.  The  man  who  preaches  what  he 
feels  without  fear  or  diffidence. 

Self-confident.  A  man  who  goes  by  nobody's  judg- 
ment but  his  own. 

Rash.  A  preacher  who  says  what  comes  upper- 
most without  any  consideration. 

Ramhling.  A  man  that  says  all  that  pops  in  his 
mind  without  any  connexion. 

Stiff.  One  who  pins  himself  down  to  think  and 
speak  by  rule,  without  any  deviation. 

Poicerful.  The  man  who  preaches  from  the  bottom 
of  his  heart,  the  truths  of  the  gospel  with  energy  to 
the  consciences  of  his  hearers. 

Finical.  Minces  out  fine  words  with  nothing  in 
them. 

Sober.  The  man  who  lulls  you  fast  asleep. 

Elegant.  The  man  who  employs  all  his  brains  upon 
dressing  words,  without  ever  aiming  at  the  heart. 

Conceited.  Vainly  aims  at  every  thing,  and  says 
nothing. 

Welch  Manner.  A  man  that  bawls  out  very  good 
things  till  he  can  bawl  no  longer. 

Methodist.  Splits  the  heads  of  his  sermons  into  so 


DESCRIfiED  BY  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  167 

many  parts,  that  he  almost  splits  the  heads  of  his 
hearers. 

Affectionate.  The  happy  man  who  feels  for  souls 
tenderly,  preaches  Christ  affectionately,  and  yearns 
over  souls  in  the  bowels  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Dogmatic.  A  man  who  goes  by  his  own  brains, 
right  or  wrong. 

Peevish.  One  who  picks  into  every  body's  thoughts, 
and  thinks  no  one  right  but  himself. 

Fanciful.  One  who  instead  of  being  led  by  wis- 
dom, runs  after  a  thousand  visionary  whimsies  and 
conceits. 

Self -important.  Thinks  nobody  like  himself. 

Noisy.  A  loud  roar,  and  nothing  in  it. 

Genteel.  The  vain  fool  that  is  fond  of  dressing  up 
words  without  meaning. 

He  once  said  of  a  man  who  Imew  the  truth,  but 
seemed  afraid  to  preach  it  in  its  fulness — "he  preaches 
the  gospel,  as  a  donkey  mumbles  a  thistle,  very  cau- 
tiously j^  He  could  not  endure  any  thing  lil^e  vanity 
in  a  minister.  A  very  fine  dissenter,  with  a  doctor's 
degree  fresh  from  the  north,  once  paid  him  a  visit ; 
he  fidgetted  about  all  the  time  he  was  talking  :  when 
he  left  the  room,  Mr.  Hill  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  said 
in  his  most  comic  tone  of  voice,  "  only  think  that  a 
D.  D.  degree  should  ever  be  converted  into  a  pedestal 
for  a  puppy !" 

During  the  period  of  the  French  revolution,  and  its 
concluding  awful  scenes,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  wisely 
conceived  that  the  best  course  he  could  take,  as  a  mi- 
nister of  the  truth,  was,  without  joining  any  political 
party,  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ,  as  the  surest 
antidote  to  disloyalty  and  error.  Many  were  curious 
to  hear  him  at  this  time,  whose  infidel  principles, 
cherished  by  the  iniquitous  associations  which  they 
joined,  had  rendered  them  disaffected  towards  all  order 
and  proper  government,  whereby  their  own  happiness 
and  comfort,  and  the  peace  of  such  of  their  fellow- 
countrymen  as  had  imbibed  their  pernicious  notions. 


168  WISE  COURSE  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

were  destroyed.  Some  of  these  were  so  impressed  by 
his  sermons,  that  the  result  was  a  change  of  heart  by 
the  grace  of  God,  and  of  course  a  change  of  princi- 
ples and  conduct.  His  own  language  on  this  subject  is 
— "We  know  that  the  state  receives  daily  benefit  by 
the  gospel  we  attempt  to  disseminate,  as  we  have  the 
fiillest  evidence  that  such  as  were  enemies  to  the 
bible,  and  enemies  to  the  government,  are  now  the 
friends  of  both,  and  that  from  the  best  and  firmest 
principles  ;  and  even  such  as  are  suspected  of  disloy- 
alty to  the  constitution,  are  refused  connexion  with 
us."  He  has  also  recorded  an  encouraging  instance 
of  the  power  of  the  gospel.  "Two  brothers,  in  a  large 
line  of  business,  were  both  of  them  members  in  some 
of  the  corresponding  societies.  They  were  called  by 
a  kind  providence  to  attend  at  Surry  chapel.  Their 
curiosity,  or  a  much  worse  principle  of  ridicule  and 
contempt,  brought  them  at  first  to  hear.  It  pleased 
God  to  impress  the  word  llome  upon  their  hearts,  and 
fi'om  mere  monsters,  they  became  men  and  Christians 
indeed.  The  joy  introduced  into  their  families  was 
inexpressible,  and  the  credit  brought  to  religion  very 
considerable.  When  they  came  to  me  to  be  admit- 
ted to  the  Lord's  table,  they  freely  told  me,  though 
with  much  compunction,  what  they  originally  were. 
From  them  I  was  informed,  that  it  is  the  first  busi- 
ness of  this  horrid  horde  of  rebels,  to  seduce  all  their 
associates  into  the  principles  of  infidelity,  through  the 
medium  of  Paine's  Age  of  Reason.  This  being  ac- 
complished, their  language  becomes  the  most  sangui- 
nary, and  their  projects  the  most  daring  and  danger- 
ous. Upon  their  conversion  to  God,  all  their  former 
connexions  were  immediately  renounced,  and  a  strict 
adherence  to  public  and  private  worship  was  seriously 
attended  to,  and  a  large  number  of  their  apprentices, 
led  on  by  them  in  the  same  way,  were  Avonderfully 
recovered  from  the  like  snare."  No  one  can  for  an 
instant  doubt,  that  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  in  these  times 
of  agitation  and  danger,  pursued  the  proper  course. 


IRELAND.     STROLLING  PLAYERS.  169 

May  all  ministers  remember,  that  the  true  mode  of 
allaying  the  convulsion  of  the  waters,  when  the  storm 
of  unbelief  and  anarchy  comes  on,  is  to  drop  on  each 
wave  as  it  passes  beneath  them,  a  portion  of  that  sacred 
oil  which  has  power  to  diffuse  a  holy  calm  wherever 
its  influence  extends. 

On  the  22nd  of  January,  1793,  good  old  Mr.  Ber- 
ridge  died,  aged  76.  His  constitution  had  long  be- 
fore given  way,  and  he  sunk  into  the  grave,  fairly 
worn  out  by  exertion  and  anxiety  for  the  spread  of 
the  word  of  life.  His  funeral  sermon  was  preached 
by  Mr.  Simeon  of  Cambridge,  from  2  Tim.  iv.  8.  Six 
clergymen,  who  perhaps  a  few  years  before  would 
have  ridiculed  and  despised  him,  supported  the  pall 
on  the  occasion  of  his  interment,  and  gave  the  tribute 
of  a  heartfelt  sio'h  to  the  memory  of  his  piety,  disin- 
terestedness, and  zeal.  When  speaking  of  him,  IMr. 
Rowland  Hill  used  to  say,  "  many  a  mile  have  I  rode, 
many  a  storm  have  I  faced,  many  a  snow  have  I  gone 
through,  to  hear  good  old  Mr.  Berridge  ;  for  I  felt  his 
ministry,  when  in  my  troubles  at  Cambridge,  a  com- 
fort and  blessing  to  my  soul.  Dear  affectionate  old 
man,  I  loved  him  to  my  heart."  ' 

In  the  autumn  of  1793  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  visited 
Ireland,  and  found  pulpits  open  to  him  in  Dublin  and 
other  places.  His  career  was  not,  however,  marked 
by  any  event  of  great  importance  or  interest,  till  the 
year  1795,  which  he  spent  in  great  activity.  At 
Wotton,  he  was  exceedingly  annoyed  by  the  intro- 
duction into  the  town  of  a  company  of  travelling  ac- 
tors, whom  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  oppose,  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  his  influence.  The  clergyman  of 
the  parish  was  favourable  to  the  license  for  the  per- 
formances being  granted;  and  he  and  another  gen- 
tleman signed  the  petition  to  the  authorities  for  that 
purpose.  A  number  of  respectable  inhabitants  drew 
up  a  counter  petition,  which  had  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
entire  approbation.  Still  the  first  was  successful,  and 
the  performances  were  permitted.  The  bishop  of  the 
15 


170  EXPOSTULATORY  ADDRESS. 

diocess  was  on  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  side,  but  acted 
towards  both  parties  in  a  very  judicious  manner,  and 
obtained  from  the  clergyman  an  assurance,  that  though 
he  could  not  withdraw  the  opinion  he  had  given  on 
such  entertainments,  he  would  not  be  in  future  "  a 
strenuous  advocate  for  them,"  Notwithstanding  this, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  thought  it  right  to  express  his  cen- 
sure of  these  amusements,  in  an  expostulatory  ad- 
dress to  the  clergyman  in  question,  remonstrating 
with  him  on  the  course  he  had  pursued,  and  resorting 
at  times  to  a  vein  of  sarcasm,  which  it  is  to  be  feared, 
diminished  the  salutary  effects  of  some  very  striking 
and  truly  spiritual  remarks,  to  be  found  in  the  pamph- 
let. After  declaring  his  opinion,  that  there  is  no- 
thing in  religion  hostile  to  such  recreations  as  may 
be  denominated  innocent,  and  contrasting  them  with 
those  of  the  stage,  he  makes,  as  he  draws  to  a  con- 
clusion, the  following  excellent  observations :  "  There 
was  a  time  when  primitive  Christianity  could  make 
its  way,  notwithstanding  all  the  opposition  that  was 
drawn  forth  against  it,  by  the  persecuting  rage  of  hea- 
tlien  darkness  and  papal  superstition.  Her  cause 
was  glorious,  and  her  beauties  were  her  own.  Ho- 
liness to  the  Lord  was  engraven  upon  the  lives  of  its 
professors.  Under  the  influences  of  that  divine 
change,  which  made  all  its  real  converts  nev)  crea- 
tures in  Christ  Jesus,  they  lived  like  those  who  firmly 
believed  that  the  life  of  Christianity  was  a  life  of 
deadness  to  the  world,  and  devotedness  to  God ; 
their  only  glory  loas  in  the  cross  of  Christ,  by  which 
tliey  esteemed  theinselves  crucified  to  the  icorld,  and 
the  1007'ld  unto  them.  They  were  dead,  and  their 
lives  ivere  hid  with  Christ  in  God. 

"  Now,  is  this  the  Christianity  of  the  present  day  ? 
Is  there  a  single  feature  belonging  to  the  modern 
professor,  which  bears  the  most  distant  resemblance 
to.  the  sacred  primitive  character,  as  thus  described 
in  the  word  of  God  ?  I  know  the  answer,  and  am 
glad  to  meet  it.     '  We  need  not  in  these  days  be  so 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY.  171 

strict  and  rig-id  in  our  religion  as  were  the  primitive 
Christians.'  Now,  if  this  expression  be  allowed  to 
speak  out,  it  means  not  so  pure  and  holi/  ;  and  then 
I  ask,  why  not  ?  If  the  nature  of  God  be  unaltera- 
ble, SO  must  the  nature  of  true  religion.  And  if  this 
alteration  be  now  allowed,  when  did  the  time  for  this 
first  commence  ?  And  how  far  may  we  suppose  that 
we  have  advanced  in  this  lawful  decline  ? 

"  Religion  indeed  may  alter  in  its  forms,  under  dif- 
ferent dispensations,  but  not  in  its  grand  designs. 
That  we  should  love  the  Lord  our  God  with  all  our 
hearts,  minds,  soids,  and  strength,  and  our  neigh- 
bours as  ourselves,  is  the  grand  ultimatum  of  all  re- 
ligion, and  the  eternal  demand  of  him  with  whom  is 
no  variableness,  nor  shadow  of  turning.  If  time 
should  have  it  in  its  power  to  deface  the  strength  of 
this  command,  by  the  same  parity  of  reasoning,  time 
might  ultimately  obliterate  the  command  itself;  cen- 
tury after  century  we  need  only  love  him  a  little  and 
a  little  less.  The  commandment  has  already  stood, 
as  enjoined  by  our  Lord,  for  near  eighteen  hundred 
years;  and  by  the  sample  we  now  show  in  the  pre- 
sent century,  in  opposition  to  the  strict  and  rigid 
sentiments  of  the  primitive  Christians,  in  a  century  or 
so  farther  down,  it  seems  as  though  it  would  be  per- 
fectly annihilated." 

There  never  was  a  Christian  more  convinced  than 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  of  the  perfect  incompatibility  of 
stage  amusements  with  spirituality  of  mind.  Some 
years  after  the  affair  at  Wotton,  he  published,  in  two 
letters  to  the  Rev.  George  Burder,  some  aphoristic 
observations  on  public  amusements,  which  he  entitled 
a  "  Warning  to  Professors." 

The  year  179.5  was  the  era  of  an  event  in  which 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  most  deeply  interested — the 
formation  of  the  London  Missionary  Society  for  the 
conversion  of  the  heathen.  There  was  no  institution, 
to  which  he  was  to  the  end  of  his  days  more  fervently 
attached ;  and  it  never  possessed  a  more  zealous  and 


172  LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

effective  promoter  of  its  interests.  He  was  one  of  its 
fii-st  directors ;  he  concluded  its  first  meetino^  with  a 
solemn  invocation  of  the  blessing  of  God  on  its  de- 
signs; in  the  vestry  of  his  chapel,  the  proposal  was 
first  made  that  the  islands  of  the  South  sea  should  he 
the  scene  of  the  commencement  of  its  efforts ;  and  to 
the  last  days  of  his  existence,  the  success  of  this  cause 
was  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  his  solicitude  and 
prayers.  He  rejoiced  in  the  prosperity  of  every  mis- 
sion, upon  the  principles  of  the  gospel,  to  the  heathen 
world  ;  but  the  profession  of  the  London  missionary 
to  unite  in  one  great  object,  Avithout  reference  to 
minor  differences  in  views  or  in  forms,  peculiarly 
harmonized  with  the  tone  and  character  of  his  mind. 
He  could  never  see  that,  except  with  reference  to  the 
universally  acknowledged  source  of  all  truth,  the 
word  of  God,  such  a  union  is  at  least  in  the  present 
state  of  the  christian  world  impracticable  ;  and  that, 
as  things  are  now,  we  shall  probably  act  most  effec- 
tually by  arranging  ourselves  in  separate  companies 
under  the  same  captain  of  our  salvation.  \Vlien 
those  who  had  united  with  them  at  first,  retired  to 
act  with  their  own  particular  communities,  he  felt  it 
as  a  desertion,  and  used  to  say,  "  ours  is  a  mission- 
ary society  for  all ;  why  leave  us  T  In  fact,  it  was 
a  peculiar  feature  of  his  plans,  that  he  never  believed 
a  scheme  which  he  had  long  cherished  could  not  be 
reduced  to  practice,  making  no  allowance  for  the 
nature  of  the  minds  of  men  ;  like  the  theorist,  who 
in  constructing  some  machine,  forgets  to  calculate 
on  the  friction  of  the  parts,  and  the  resistance  of  the 
air. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  preached  a  missionary  sermon 
at  Surry  chapel  for  his  favourite,  and  now  long  usefiil 
society,  on  the  occasion  of  the  first  general  meeting, 
on  Thursday,  September  the  25th,  1795.  His  text 
was,  And  this  gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall  he  preach- 
ed in  all  the  world  for  a  witness  vnto  all  nations, 
and  then  shall  the  end  come :.  Matt.  xxiv.  14.    The^e 


MISSIONARY  DAY  AT  SURRY  CHAPEL.  173 

were  present  about  two  hundred  ministers  of  various 
denominations,  forming  a  most  impressive  and  ani- 
mating spectacle,  which  has  been  repeated  for  many 
years  on  the  second  Wednesday  in  May,  in  the  same 
place.  The  missionary  day  at  Surry  chapel  was,  to 
its  devoted  pastor,  in  the  brightest  sense,  a  gala.  On 
that  morning  he  rose  earlier  than  usual,  and  before 
breakfast,  was  seen  seated  at  a  table  near  the  win- 
dow of  his  room,  looking  alternately  at  the  people  as 
they  gathered  in  the  chapel  yard,  hours  before  the 
opening  of  the  doors,  and  at  the  bible  and  book  of 
common  prayer,  to  select  the  lessons  for  the  day,  and 
to  refresh  his  recollection  of  the  service  he  was  about 
to  read.  When  any  one  entered  the  room,  he  would 
say,  "  see  what  a  churchman  I  am  ;  I  must  have  it 
all  correct :"  then  perhaps  he  would  make  a  few  re- 
marks on  the  first  movements  of  his  mind  towards 
the  great  cause  of  missionary  labours.  Presently 
Mrs.  Hill  came  down,  when  he  said  to  his  servant, 
"  come  up  to  prayer."  The  family  were  soon  as- 
sembled, and  in  a  short,  but  sublime  supplication,  he 
poured  forth  the  deep  feeling  of  his  soul.  It  was  a 
solemn  and  aflecting  moment ;  few  could  have  heard 
him  unmoved.  At  breakfast  he  was  interrupted 
every  instant,  but  not  at  all  annoyed,  by  the  en- 
trance of  those  connected  with  the  management  of 
the  society,  or  by  the  introduction  of  some  distin- 
guished foreigner,  who  desired  to  witness  the  rou- 
tine of  the  day.  Now  and  then  he  was  called  out 
to  prevent  the  persons  in  the  yard,  from  rushing 
through  the  house  into  the  chapel,  in  their  anxiety 
to  gain  early  admission ;  and  it  was  only  by  the 
strongest  remonstrances,  that  many  of  them  were 
prevailed  on  to  wait  for  the  opening  of  the  doors. 
As  soon  as  the  hour  of  service  arrived,  he  went  to 
the  vestry  ;  presently  there  was  a  general  movement 
in  the  chapel,  and  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  his  venera- 
ble figure,  as  he  slowly  ascended  the  steps  of  the 
desk.  No  reader  ever  gave  a  more  solemn  effect  to 
15* 


174  MISSIONART  DAY  AT  SURRY  CHAPEL. 

the  liturgy  of  the  church  of  England  ;  his  deep  feel- 
ing, brought  out  by  the  scene  and  the  occasion,  his 
powerful  and  melodious  voice,  and  his  thorough  con- 
ception of  the  beauty  and  spirituality  of  the  form  of 
prayer  he  loved,  combined  to  give  a  pathos  and  dig- 
nity to  his  performance  of  this  part  of  the  service, 
which  has  never  been  surpassed  by  any  minister. 
After  the  prayers,  the  missionary  hynm  was  given  out 
by  one  of  the  phalanx  of  ministers  who  occupied  the 
front  of  the  galleries,  and  sung  by  the  immense  con- 
gregation, all  standing.  The  full  tones  of  the  fine 
organ,  the  combination,  in  a  simple  melody,  of  three 
thousand  voices,  and  the  recollection  of  the  object  of 
their  meeting,  inspired  an  emotion  which  thrilled 
through  every  Christian's  breast.  After  the  sermon, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  held  a  plate  at  one  of  the  doors, 
and  the  people  seemed  to  strive  for  the  honour  of 
putting  their  donations  into  his  hands.  If  the  collec- 
tion went  on  well,  his  countenance  beamed  with  de- 
light, and  he  hastened  at  its  conclusion  up  the  steps 
to  his  own  house,  to  reckon  its  amount,  surrounded  by 
those  whom  he  had  invited  to  dine  with  him  in  the 
schoolroom.  The  sum  gathered  was  seldom  found 
deficient.  Once,  in  times  of  difilculty,  it  was  less 
than  usual  by  nearly  a  hundred  pounds.  His  depres- 
sion was  evident  to  all  near  him ;  but  in  the  evening, 
as  he  sat  silent  and  in  low  spirits  at  the  falling  off,  a 
gentle  tap  was  heard  at  the  door,  a  letter  was  brought 
in,  and  carelessly  opened,  with  the  remark  "  a  beg- 
ging letter,  I  dare  say."  It  contained  a  draft  for  one 
hundred  pounds,  from  a  generous  individual,  who  had 
observed  the  eftbct  of  the  diminution  in  the  collection 
on  his  mind,  and  who  expressed  his  anxiety  for  the 
honour  of  Surry  chapel,  and  the  comfort  of  its  then 
aged  pastor.  His  eye  brightened,  and  he  exclaimed, 
"  the  Lord  hath  not  forsaken  us,  we  shall  now  do  bet- 
ter than  ever  ;  we  should  never  doubt." 

In  the  midst  of  the  large  company  he  entertained 
at  dinner  after  the  morning  service,  he  said  little ; 


MISSIONARY    DAY   AT  SURRY  CHAPEL.        175 

but  when  he  spoke,  there  was  an  instant  silence.  Se- 
veral clergymen  were  generally  of  the  party,  and 
sometimes  a  discussion  took  place  between  them  and 
the  dissenters  who  were  present.  Mr.  Hill  used  vi- 
gilantly to  watch  this,  that  he  might  instantly  repress 
any  symptoms  of  sparring.  It  once  liappened  that 
the  parties  growing  warm  appealed  to  him.  He  put 
on  one  of  his  arch  looks,  and  said,  "  well  I  declare  I 
must  say  you  are  both  equally  wrong ;  and  I  was  just 
thinking  that  if  you  were  tied  together  by  the  tail,  like 
two  cats,  and  thrown  over  a  forked  stick,  you  would 
scratch  each  others  eyes  out."  The  effect  of  such  an 
unexpected  decision  must  be  left  to  the  imagination. 
The  majority  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  giiests  on  the 
missionary  day,  left  the  dinner  table  at  an  early  hour,, 
to  attend  some  evening  meeting  of  the  same  society  : 
two  or  three  intimate  friends  generally  remained  with 
him,  and  he  then  opened  his  mind  with  much  freedom, 
both  with  reference  to  recollections  of  the  past  and  an- 
ticipations of  the  future.  He  would  tell  of  his  early 
trials  and  difficulties,  speak  of  the  present  aspect  of 
the  times,  and  intersperse  between  his  observations 
the  most  amusing  and  enlivening  anecdotes.  If  the 
sermon  had  been  elaborate  and  wanted  unction,  he 
would  say,  "  that  cut  and  dried  stuff  never  tells  ;  it 
does  not  get  hold  of  the  people  ;  it  is  too  fine  by  half. 
There  was  once  a  man  preached  for  me  at  Wotton,. 
and  used  such  hard  words  the  people  could  not  un- 
derstand him.  Some  of  the  plain  folks  used  to  say  to 
me  when  I  came  from  London, — '  we  do  know  what 

we  do  hear,  when  you  do  preach  ;  but  Mr. do 

use  so  many  dictionary  words  we  can't  understand 
his  meaning — we  don't  know  where  he  do  get  'em, 
unless  it  be  out  of  the  almanack.' "  On  one  occasion 
he  said, — "  it  is  astonishing  what  nonsense  some 
people  will  talk  in  the  pulpit.  When  I  was  out  the 
other  day  on  a  missionary  journey,  I  heard  of  a  man 
who  had  been  preaching  on  modern  improvements^ 
and  amongst  others,  of  the  merciful  way  of  making- 


176  MISSIONARY  COMMUNION. 

war  since  the  invention  of  gunpowder,  wliich  proved 
so  much  easier  a  death  than  that  inflicted  by  the 
ancient  weapons.  He  got  rightly  served  for  his  pains, 
for  they  have  called  him  the  gnupoioder  parson  ever 
since."  Then,  he  added,  "  I  preach  Christ  crucified  ; 
and  when  that  ceases  to  be  my  only  theme,  may  I 
cease  from  the  pulpit."  Sometimes  he  remarked,  "  I 
once  heard  a  sermon  indeed  in  Surry  chapel ;  it  was 
from  Dr.  Chalmers — O  what  a  man  that  is — O  what 
a  lustre  his  humility  gives  to  the  powers  of  his  great 
mind,  and  to  the  grace  that  is  in  his  heart."  He 
wrote  in  a  volume  of  Chalmers's  sermons — "  many 
books  I  began  to  read  I  could  not  finish  ;  but  these 
admirable  discourses  so  attracted  my  attention,  that 
I  could  not  take  my  eye  from  them,  till  after  I  had 
read  the  last  page  with  supreme  regret." 

The  members  of  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
who  belong  to  difierent  religious  societies  connected 
with  the  various  places  of  dissenting  worship  in  the 
metropolis,  are  in  the  habit  of  concluding  their  week 
of  business,  by  what  they  call  a  missionary  com- 
munion. The  communicants  are  admitted  by  tickets 
from  their  ministers,  who  are  supposed  to  know  their 
religious  state.  In  these  meetings  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
felt  a  real  interest  and  pleasure,  and  considered  them 
as  excellent  means  for  the  promotion  of  Christian 
love  at  home,  as  well  as  sympathy  with  the  miseries 
of  the  heathen  world.  He  attended  them  regularly, 
addressed  those  who  were  present  on  such  occasions 
with  great  effect,  and  returned  home  in  a  highly  spi- 
ritual and  serious  frame  of  mind.  The  excellent  Dr. 
Steinkopflf  had  the  same  view  of  the  use  of  these 
meetings,  and  frequently  attended  them. 

In  the  year  1796,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  repeated  his 
visit  to  Ireland.  He  had  found  a  ready  access  to  the 
aflfections  of  the  pious  people  in  Dublin,  and  his  name 
has  ever  been  held  in  high  veneration  in  that  city. 
Letters  to  him  from  his  Irish  hearers,  bear  testimony 
to  his  zealous  exertions  there,  and  to  the  commence- 


IRELAND.  177 

ment  at  that  period  of  the  work  of  rehgion  amongst 
them.  A  clergyman  pressed  him  to  go  into  the  North, 
to  "  proclaim  the  word  of  life  in  his  parish,"  where  he 
tells  him  that  notwithstanding  the  numbers  of  papists 
amons:  his  people,  a  work  of  grace  was  going  on. 
His  vivid  imagination,  animated  manner,  liveliness  of 
disposition,  and  rooted  abhorrence  of  popery,  suited 
in  a  high  degree  the  pious  protestants  who  crowded 
around  him.  Letters  still  in  existence  from  his  Irish 
friends,  express  their  assurance  of  his  deep  sympathy 
in  the  awful  scenes  of  1797.  The  clergyman  just 
referred  to  tells  him,  "  not  less  than  1.5,000  lives  have 
been  lost  in  the  course  of  the  rebellion,  out  of  which 
number  something  less  than  1,000  might  be  on  the 
part  of  the  loyalists.  In  our  contest  with  the  French, 
our  loss  has  been  small ;  tlie  rebels  who  joined  them 
were  papists,  with  scarcely  the  exception  of  a  single 
protestant,  and  would  no  doubt  have  committed  many 
outrages,  had  they  not  been  restrained  by  the  inter- 
ference of  the  French  officers,  to  whose  humane  exer- 
tions the  bishop  of  Killaloe  owes  his  life."  Wherever 
he  went,  his  presence  inspired  such  confidence  and  re- 
gard, that  those  whom  he  admitted  to  any  degree  of 
ijfttimacy,  looked  upon  him  as  a  friend  and  a  brother, 
to  whom  they  might  appeal  for  advice  and  consolation 
in  the  difficulties  and  trials  by  which  they  were  after- 
wards surrounded ;  and  their  experience  in  such  cir- 
cumstances would  have  allowed  them  to  have  address- 
ed  him  m  the  words  of  Ovid, 

O  mihi  care  quidem  semper,  sed  tempore  duro 
Cognite,  res  postquam  procubuere  more. 

In  the  year  1798  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  paid  his  first 
visit  to  Scotland.  He  was  invited  there  by  a  few  zea- 
lous persons  who  had  engaged  the  circus  in  Edin- 
burgh as  a  chapel,  on  the  plan  of  the  Tabernacle  in 
London.  They  requested  Mr.  Hill  to  come  and  open 
it,  and  spend  five  or  six  weeks  with  them.  He  was 
pleased  with  the  idea,  and  readily  acceded  to  their  re- 
quest. The  circus  had  been  secured  for  one  year  only, 


178        PLACES  VISITED  BY  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL 

by  way  of  experiment,  and  it  was  agreed  to  fix  the 
hours  of  service  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  and 
six  in  the  evening,  that  there  might  be  no  interference 
with  the  regular  attendance  of  persons  at  their  own 
places  of  worship ;  a  plan  of  which  JMr.  Rowland 
Hill  entirely  approved.  He  published  on  his  return 
the  journal  of  his  tour,  with  a  dedication  to  Robert 
Haldane,  Esq.  the  gentleman  who  was  deputed  to  invite 
him  to  Edinburgh.  He  informs  us  in  this  work  that 
he  left  Wotton-under-edge  on  the  "  Lord's  day,  July 
15, 1798,"  after  the  afternoon  service,  and  preached  at 
Frampton,  on  his  way  to  the  North,  in  the  evening. 
After  preaching  daily  at  various  places  in  his  way,  he 
reached  Macclesfield  on  July  19.  He  says — "A  visit 
to  this  to\vn  was  a  peculiar  pleasure  and  satisfaction 
to  my  mind.  Mr.  Simpson,  the  minister  of  the  new 
church,  is  my  dear  old  friend.  Our  acquaintance  com- 
menced at  Cambridge.  Being  of  the  same  college, 
our  custom  was  to  read  with  each  other  the  Greek 
Testament,  and  other  evangelical  publications;  these 
meetings  we  always  concluded  with  prayer.  The 
university  was  then  almost  in  total  darkness.  No 
wonder,  therefore,  if  for  such  exercises,  and  for  some 
other  strong  symptoms  of  a  metJiodistical  bias,  we 
were  speedily  marked,  and  had  the  honour  of  being 
pointed  at  as  the  curiosities  of  the  day.  This  did 
good.  Others  soon  joined  us  to  the  number  of  ten 
or  twelve.  Some  of  them  were  Nicodemian  disciples; 
others  have  proved  bold  and  useful  ministers ;  and 
some  of  them,  I  trust,  have  been  taken  to  glory. 
Blessed  be  God,  things  now  bear  a  more  pleasing  as- 
pect in  that  university.  The  gospel  is  at  present  not 
only  faithfully  preached  by  Mr.  Simeon  and  others, 
but  many  young  men  are  training  up,  who  I  trust  will, 
if  worldly  prudence  and  the  fear  of  man  prevent  not, 
prove  a  blessing  to  the  church,  by  preaching  with  fer- 
vency and  zeal,  her  long  neglected  doctrines  to  the 
consciences  of  their  hearers." 

After  preaching  in  Mr.  Simpson's  church  to  a  "very 


IN  HIS  JOURNEY  TO  SCOTLAND.  179 

serious  and  crowded  congregation,"  he  proceeded  to 
Manchester.  The  minister  of  St.  Clement's,  Mr. 
Smythe,  with  whom  his  acquaintance  commenced  in 
Dtthhn,  welcomed  him  to  his  pulpit,  where  he  ad- 
dressed "  a  solemn  and  attentive  auditory"  on  the 
eternal  obligations  of  the  law,  and  our  free  salvation 
by  the  gospel  :  2  Cor.  iii.  18.  He  passed  no  day 
without  preaching,  till  he  came  to  Penrith,  where  he 
was  told  no  one  would  receive  him,  on  which  he  re- 
marks, "  I  hope  some  gospel  hero  in  the  neighbour- 
hood will  make  it  a  point  to  besiege  that  town.  The 
inhabitants,  as  report  says,  are  awfully  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins.  1  am  informed  that  even  the  few 
dissenters  there,  are  dissenters  from  many  of  the  in- 
valuable truths  of  the  gospel,"  At  Carlisle  he  offici- 
ated in  a  small  chapel  built  by  Lady  Glenorchy,  and 
passed  the  evening  at  the  Grapes  Inn,  but  could  not 
prevail  on  the  landlord  to  take  any  thing  for  his  ac- 
commodation "  This,"  he  says,  "  I  mention  as  a 
token  of  respect  for  the  kind  reception  given  to  a 
stranger,  as  it  was  done  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  They  gave  much  more  than  a  cup  of  cold  wa- 
ter to  an  unworthy  prophet  in  thy  name  ;  may  they 
receive  much  more  than  a  prophet's  reward  !"  His 
first  evening  in  Scotland  was  spent  at  Langham,  where 
there  was  a  fair,  and  he  regrets,  with  some  very  pro- 
per remarks  on  the  evil  tendency  of  such  scenes,  that 
he  was  obliged  to  spend  the  night  in  this  uncongenial 
situation.  To  avoid  the  noise  and  confusion,  he  took 
a  solitary  walk  by  the  river's  side.  There  a  gentleman, 
whom  he  conceived  to  be  the  minister  of  the  parish, 
offered  him  an  asylum  in  his  house  from  the  disquie- 
tude of  the  town :  but  having  procured  a  private  lodg- 
ing he  declined  it.  While  conversing  with  this  kind 
individual,  two  of  his  unknown  Edinburgh  friends, 
Messrs.  Haldane  and  Aikman,  passed  by.  "He  disco- 
vered that  they  were  itinerants,  on  the  errand  of 
preaching  the  gospel,  and  had  the  gratification  of  their 
company  during  the  remainder  of  the  evening.     At 


180        HE  OPENS  THE  CIRCUS  AT  EDINBURGH. 

Hawick  he  saw,  for  the  first  time,  a  Scotch  funeral, 
conducted  without  a  prayer  or  the  presence  of  a  mi- 
nister, and  observed  to  a  bystander — "  your  funerals 
are  soon  over."  A  loquacious  old  woman  told  him, 
prayers  were  no  use  to  the  dead.  This  he  admitted, 
but  "  suggested  that  the  people  of  Scotland  lost  an 
excellent  opportunity  of  doing  good  to  the  living,  if 
they  could  do  nothing  for  the  dead."  He  adds,  "  I 
was  surprised  at  this  omission  in  Scotland  ;  but  con- 
sidering that  a  Scotsman  always  stands  as  an  antipode 
to  the  pope,  it  appeared  probable,  that  papal  prayers 
for  the  dead  determined  John  Knox,  their  valuable 
but  uncouth  reformer,  against  all  prayers  at  a  funeral 
whatever." 

At  Edinburgh  IMr.  Rowland  Hill  was  received  by 
Mr.  James  Haldane,  at  his  hotise  in  George  Street, 
where  he  says  '-nothing  was  wanting,  but  more  grati- 
tude and  thankfulness  on  my  part,  for  such  a  kind  and 
affectionate  reception."  On  the  day  after  his  arrival, 
Sunday,  July  29,  he  opened  the  circus.  His  text  was 
the  prayer  of  Moses,  Exodus  xxxiii.  14, 15, — If  thy 
presence  go  not  with  me,  carry  us  not  np  hence.  In 
the  morning  the  attendance  consisted  only  of  a  few 
hundreds,  but  in  the  evening  the  place  was  full.  His 
subject  was,  1  Cor.  i.  22,  23,  24,  and  he  "  employed 
some  time  in  showing  Paul's  method  of  treating  his 
proud  Corinthian  hearers."  "How  very  different,"  he 
proceeds,  "  is  the  immediate  and  direct  simplicity  of 
the  apostle,  compared  to  too  many  of  the  cold  and 
formal  productions  of  the  present  day.  O  the  sim- 
plicity that  is  in  Christ !  How  lovely  in  its  effects, 
while  the  minister  preaches  just  as  he  feels,  wise- 
ly regulated  by  the  word  of  God,  and  warmly  ani- 
mated with  a  desire  to  bring  salvation  to  the  sinner's 
heart !" 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  method  of  preaching  was  a 
complete  novelty  in  Scotland,  except  to  a  few  aged 
persons  who  recollected  the  visits  of  "VVhitefield  to  that 
country.     An  anecdote  in  a  Scotch  pulpit  was  an  ex- 


PREACHES  ON  CALTON  HILL.  181 

periment  that  no  Presbyterian  would  have  ventured 
on ;  but  those  told  by  Mr.  Hill  were  so  lively  and 
affecting,  that  his  hearers  were  raised  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  interest.  An  excellent  Scotch  minister*  who 
was  present  on  many  of  these  occasions,  thus  describes 
their  effect :  "  During  some  of  his  sermons,  the  eternal 
world  appeared  to  be  next  door  to  us,  and  but  a  step 
between  us  and  the  judgment  day,  which  seemed  to 
cause  a  shaking  among  our  dry  bones.  Not  that  Mr. 
Hill  preached  a  different  gospel  from  what  we  had 
been  accustomed  to  hear,  for  at  that  time  as  well  as 
now,  there  were  various  able  ministers  of  the  New 
Testament,  both  in  and  out  of  the  establishment,  but 
there  was  a  general  formal  sameness,  seldom  what 
was  strikins:  or  catchinof." 

The  singularity  of  Mr.  Rowland  HilPs  manner,  the 
fervour  of  his  address,  and  the  brilliant  powers  of  his 
active  and  energetic  mind,  soon  drew  vast  multitudes 
around  him.  The  circus,  large  as  it  was,  could  not 
contain  half  the  numbers  who  flocked  to  hear  him ; 
and  they  cried  out  that  the  galleries  were  giving  way 
mider  the  pressure  of  the  crowd.  He  accordingly 
went  forth  to  the  Calton  Hill,  where  he  preached  from 
a  platform  to  a  mass  of  people,  amounting  to  at  least 
ten  thousand  in  number.  The  spot  was  well  adapted 
to  such  a  purpose ;  the  platform  was  placed  in  the 
centre  of  a  sort  of  natural  basin,  and  the  green  slopes 
which  surroimded  it,  were  covered  with  innumerable 
immortal  beings,  silent  as  the  breathless  evening  of 
autumn,  fixed  in  deep  attention  to  the  words  that 
issued  from  the  sonorous  and  commanding  voice  of 
the  speaker,  as  he  delivered,  in  all  the  majesty  and 
dignity  of  his  office,  his  message  of  mercy  to  the  lost 
and  ruined  sinner.  The  retiring  of  the  multitude 
under  the  most  solemn  impressions  was,  indeed,  a 
touching  sight ;  every  person  seemed  deep  in  thought, 

*  The  Rev.  John  Campbell,  the  well  known  missionary  to  Af- 
rica, who  kindly  communicated  to  me  his  recollections  of  the 
visits  of  Mr.  Hill  to  Scotland. 

16 


182  SCENE  AT  GLASGOW. 

and  numbers  were,  for  the  first  time,  absorbed  in  the 
concerns  of  their  souls  and  of  eternity.  The  old  wo- 
men, as  they  looked  out  of  their  doors  at  the  slowly 
passing  stream  of  human  beings,  observing  a  party  of 
soldiers  among  them,  exclaimed,  "  Eh  sirs,  what  will 
become  of  us  now  !  what  will  this  turn  to  !  the  very 
sodgers  Eire  ganging  to  hear  preachhig."  It  was  al- 
ways a  principle  with  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  to  expect 
great  things  from  his  labours :  "  While  we  are  straight- 
ened," he  says,  "  in  our  expectations,  the  blessing  is 
withheld ;  but  when  our  hearts  are  enlarged,  the  more 
we  ask,  the  more  we  have." 

The  same  interest  which  had  been  excited  by  Mr. 
Hill's  preaching  in  Edinburgh,  accompanied  him  in  a 
short  excursion  into  the  Western  Highlands.  He 
first  reached  Glasgow,  on  August  I3th,  time  enough 
to  preach  in  the  evening  in  the  churchyard  of  the 
High  church."  The  scene  he  describes  as  "  most 
solemn."  "  Underneath  us,"  he  adds,  "  were  the  re- 
mains, I  may  venture  to  say,  of  millions,  waiting  for 
the  resurrection.  Here  I  stood  on  a  widely  extended 
space,  covered,  or  nearly  covered,  with  the  living,  all 
immortals— five  thousand,  I  should  suppose,  at  least. 
What  solemn  work  to  address  such  multitudes !  Who 
is  suffi  dent  for  these  things .'"  Though  greatly  ex- 
hausted by  his  exertions,  he  "  could  not  refuse  the  re- 
quest to  preach  next  morning"  at  eight  o'clock,  when 
he  proceeded  to  Paisley,  and  preached  in  the  yard 
of  the  church,  over  which  Witherspoon  once  presi- 
ded, to  an  assembly  nearly  as  large  as  that  at  Glas- 
gow. He  says,  "  my  soul  loves  Paisley,  for  there  I 
believe  Christians  love  each  other.  May  the  precious 
leaven  that  is  evident  there,  spread  itself  through  the 
North.  I  grieve  to  find  so  many  separated  by  hu- 
man laws  on  earth,  who  are  all  to  be  united  in  one, 
by  divine  love,  in  heaven  and  glory." 

The  return  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  Edinburgh  was 
marked  by  an  increase,  even  of  the  immense  crowds 
who  had  previously  flocked  to  hear  him.     On  the 


ROTHERHAM.      WOTTON.  183 

Calton  Hill  he  now  calculates  the  numbers  at  fifteen 
thousand,  in  addressing  whom,  his  principal  aim  in 
his  sermons  was  to  alarm  the  sinner.  He  experien- 
ced a  most  hospitable  reception  at  Melville  house, 
whose  noble  owner  was  glad  to  have  the  benefit  of 
his  services  in  his  family  worship.  The  last  time 
he  preached  on  Calton  Hill,  it  is  supposed  the  con- 
gregation amounted  to  nearly  twenty  thousand, 
though  the  rain  threatened.  He  thus  expresses  the 
feelings  of  his  mind  on  the  occasion — "  to  be  clear 
from'' the  blood  of  such  a  multitude,  and  to  declare 
to  them  the  whole  counsel  of  God,  what  wisdom 
and  grace  does  it  require  !"  On  this  occasion,  a  col- 
lection was  made  for  the  charity  work-house,  which 
was  thankfully  received  by  the  magistrates  of  the 
city. 

Thus  did  this  zealous  messenger  of  Christ  labour 
in  Scotland  ;  and  it  was  believed  that  during  his  first 
visit  to  the  North,  at  least  two  hundred  souls  were 
converted  to  God,  some  of  whom  had  been  notorious 
for  their  vice  and  profligacy.  At  Rotherham,  on  his 
way  home,  he  preached  on  a  Sunday  evening  to  ten 
thousand  people  in  the  open  air,  on  the  necessity 
of  conversion,  and  repentance  unto  life,  from  Acts 
iii.  19.  When  he  began,  he  was  annoyed  by  the 
bells'  of  a  neighbouring  church ;  but  as  soon  as  they 
were  told  what  was  going  on,  the  ringers  civilly  de- 
sisted. He  was  very  near,  however,  meeting  with 
a  much  more  serious  inconvenience.  A  madman 
rushed  through  the  congregation,  brandishing  a 
drawn  sword  with  great  vehemence,  and  struggled 
hard  to  reach  him.  He  was  speedily  disarmed  by 
the  people,  without  injury  to  any  one  ;  and  the  tran- 
quillity of  the  assemblage  was  but  little  disturbed  by 
the  event.  Mr.  Hill  arrived  at  Wotton,  on  Saturday, 
September  22nd.  He  concludes  his  journal  with 
these  words  : — '•'  I  have  now  finished  a  nine  weeks' 
gospel  tour  of  full  1,200  miles  ;  have  preached  in 
much  weakness  to  many  thousands  ;  and  have  been . 


184  WOTTON. 

more  or  less  engaged  on  different  calls,  near  eighty 
times,  with  no  other  calamity  than  a  little  indispo- 
sition for  a  few  days,  and  the  temporary  lameness 
of  the  same  horse  which  conveyed  me  through  all 
my  journey,  excepting  the  short  respite  he  required 
till  he  could  overtake  me  on  the  road.  Without  also 
the  least  personal  insult  from  any  quarter,  excepting 
a  small  share  of  a  distant  hiss  of  false  aspersion, 
and  I  trust  unjust  reflection.  For  them  I  only  quote 
that  fine  expression  in  our  church  liturgy,  '  pardon 
our  persecutors  and  slanderers,  and  turn  their  hearts.' 

"  Thus  again  am  I  restored  to  the  spot  I  love  as  a 
place  of  temporaiy  retirement ;  a  place  well  situated 
as  a  sphere  of  usefulness,  and  dear  to  me,  as  it  was 
one  of  the  first-fruits  of  my  youthful  ministry.  I  bless 
God.  many  souls  were  then  called  and  saved  by  grace, 
and  many  of  them  I  trust  are  gone  to  glory.  The  con- 
gregation is  as  large  as  in  the  best  of  our  days  ;  not- 
withstanding, I  fear  but  little  real,  work  has  of  late 
been  done.  From  whence,  my  God,  is  this  suspen- 
sion ]  Is  the  fault  in  me,  or  is  it  in  them  1  Or  is  it 
that  I  am  to  be  called  elsewhere,  by  being  driven,  to 
give  a  less  portion  of  my  time  to  a  people,  who  '  by 
seeing  they  see,  and  do  not  perceive,  and  by  hearing 
they  liear,  and  do  not  understand  T  "  There  are  but 
few  diligent  ministers  of  the  gospel,  who  will  not  feel 
and  appreciate  these  remarks.  -^ 

The  unprecedented  exertions  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
in  Scotland,  and  tlie  increase  of  itinerant  preaching, 
excited  the  attention  of  the  general  assembly,  who 
thought  it  their  duty  to  publish,  what  they  entitled 
their  Pastoral  Admonition,  warning  the  population 
against  countenancing  such  irregularities,  and  ac- 
companying their  advice,  with  some  severe  censures 
on  the  conduct  and  motives  of  the  travelling  preach- 
ers. Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  in  his  Observations  on  the 
Established  Church  of  Scotland,  addressed  to  James 
Haldane,  Esq.,  had  himself  made  some  remarks, 
which  were  by  no  means  calculated  to  allay  the  an- 


ESTABLISHMENTS.  185 

gry  feelings  of  the  body  to  whom  they  referred.  To 
these  he  appended,  "  Reflections  on  some  party  dis- 
tinctions in  England."  With  regard  to  establish- 
ments he  observes,  that  "  even  the  outward  profession 
of  Christianity  is  no  small  blessing  to  any  nation ; 
and  I  should  conceive,  without  deviating  from  the 
laws  of  liberty,  or  of  Christianity,  the  rulers  of  the 
earth  may,  and  ought  to  support  and  protect  it." 
Upon  this  principle  he  declared  himself  a  friend  to 
establishments  ;  but  they  must  be  such  as  would 
permit  him  to  have  an  "  imcontroUed  right  over  his 
own  pulpit,"  and  "allow  him  the  assistance  of  those 
whose  ministrations  he  believed  would  be  to  the  spi- 
ritual advancement  of  the  people  of  his  charge."  He 
adds,  after  his  own  manner,  "  but  such  admission, 
say  some,  would  be  riding  upon  the  back  of  all 
order  and  decorum  :  happy  should  I  be  to  ride  upon 
the  back  oisvch  order  and  decorum,  till  I  had  ridden 
them  to  death."*  "  By  this  primitive  mode  of  pro- 
cedure," in  his  opinion,  "  a  great  number  of  valua- 
ble ministers  have  been  raised  up;  some  from  the 
army,  some  from  the  navy.  We  bless  God,"  he  adds, 
"  for  the  names  of  a  Captain  Scott,  and  a  Captain 
Joss  ;  for  captains  have  tongues  and  brains  as  well 
as  doctors."  That  there  are  defects  in  all  establish- 
ments can  neither  be  doubted  or  denied ;  but  once 
admit  the  principle,  that  any  individual  may  in- 
fringe the  rules  and  order  of  his  religious  community, 
according  to  his  own  views,  and  we  introduce  such 
elements  of  irregularity  and  confusion,  as  must 
eventually  destroy  all  discipline,  government,  and 
real  usefulness.  There  are  abundant  spheres  of  ex- 
ertion for  every  Christian  ;  and  it  matters  not  much 
in  what  circle,  within  the  pale  of  the  church,  a  man 
moves,  provided  he  fully  fills  out  its  circumference. 

*  I  once  asked  him  why  he  called  his  carriage  horses  order  and 
decorum — "  Oh  !"  he  answered,  "  they  said  in  the  north,  '  Mr. 
Hill  rides  upon  the  backs  of  order  and  decorum,'' — so  I  called  one 
of  my  horses  order  and  the  other  decorum,  that  they  might  tell 
the  truth  in  one  way  if  they  did  not  in  another. 

16* 


186  DIMINISHED  INTEREST  OF 

It  was  on  this  point  of  preachings  and  the  power  of 
the  stated  minister  to  admit  whom  he  wonld  into  his 
pulpit,  that  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  differed,  both  with  the 
churchman  and  the  presbyterian  ;  nor  could  he  see, 
that  an  objection  which  he  raised  himself  against  this 
mode  of  procedure,  is  amongst  the  many  unanswera- 
])le  arguments  which  are  to  be  brought  against  it. 
"  I  know  also,"  he  says,  "  that  this  view  of  matters 
will  coiisideruhly  lessen  the  idea  of  fimiisterial  im- 
portance, whe?i  the  preacher  is  found  p)romiscuously 
among  all  sorts  of  characters^  This  had,  however, 
no  weight  with  him,  because  he  conceived  the  mode 
he  adopted  as  consonant  "  with  God's  o^vn  method  of 
sendins:  forth  his  labourers."  This  one  idea  occu- 
pied  such  an  immoveable  position  in  his  mind,  that  it 
became  the  hinge  upon  which  all  its  motions  turned, 
the  centre  from  which  they  sprung,  the  point  to  which 
they  reverted. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  controversy  with  the  general 
assembly,  mai'red  both  the  pleasure  and  usefulness  of 
his  second  journey  to  Scotland.  It  was  carried  on 
with  vehemence  in  letter  after  letter,  and  pamphlet 
after  pamphlet.  It  engrossed  all  his  sermons,  and 
was  the  perpetual  topic  of  his  conversation.  To 
ridicule  their  Admonition  seemed  his  chief  object.  It 
is  true  the  smile  was  often  turned  against  his  oppo- 
.  nents  ;  but  '•  probably,"  observes  a  shrewd  and  pious 
Scotchman,  "  Satan  was  clapping  his  shoulder  and 
whispering,  well  done  Rowland — It  is  far  better  for 
you  to  expend  your  ammunition  against  the  general 
assembly,  than  against  my  kingdom — I  thank  you, 
for  I  have  not  lost  one  follower  during  this  second 
visit  of  yours."  True  it  was,  that  he  was  caught  in 
this  snare — not  one  conversion  was  ever  proved  to 
have  taken  place  during  this  visit ;  but  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  he  afterwards  saw  and  regretted  his 
error.  Thus  not  only  his  virtues,  but  his  failings, 
will  be  a  lesson  to  the  gospel  minister ;  and  if  a  spirit 
emancipated  from  the  incumbrances  of  the  material 


MR.  hill's  second  VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND.        187 

world,  has  any  retrospective  interest  in  the  scenes 
which  it  has  quitted,  or  any  cognizance  of  its  memory 
being:  cherished  in  the  breasts  of  the  hvino;  his  would 
at  this  instant  desire,  that  not  only  the  excellences 
of  his  character  should  be  held  forth  as  an  example, 
but  that  the  errors  into  which  he  .fell  should  also  be 
recorded,  as  danfjers  to  be  carefully  avoided.  This 
was  assuredly  his  feeling  while  on  earth.  "Wlien  ob- 
serving that  some  biographers  had  painted  the  cha- 
racters of  good  men  as  though  they  had  no  faults,  he 
used  to  say  earnestly — "  Well,  I  hope  no  one  will 
ever  write  in  this  way  about  me,  a  poor  miserable 
sinner." 

As  may  be  expected,  from  the  foregoing  observa- 
tions, the  journal  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  second  tour 
in  Scotland,  contains  but  little  matter  to  which  we  can 
advert  with  profit.  His  time  and  his  talents  seemed 
entirely  taken  up  with  attacking  the  general  assembly. 
On  his  road  he  paid  a  visit  to  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Lei- 
cester, and  preached  in  his  church.  "  Our  first  ac- 
quaintance," he  says,  "  commenced  at  Cambridge  ;  he 
was  then  pointed  at,  with  myself,  as  being  out  of  the 
common  way.  Since  then,  however,  blessed  be  God ! 
things  are  considerably  altered  for  the  better  in  that 
seat  of  learning."  The  crowds,  it  is  true,  on  Calton 
Hill  were  still  large,  but  there  are  no  evidences  of 
conversions  to  God.  His  account  of  the  anxiety  to 
hear  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Forres  is  very  striking. 
"  The  people  travel  almost  throughout  the  night,  that 
they  may  reach  a  morning  sermon.  From  twenty 
miles  around,  and  some  even  from  a  greater  distance, 
they  flock  from  every  quarter,  and  hear  with  a  pecu- 
liar seriousness  and  attention  ;  while  not  much  less 
and  sometimes  many  more,  than  a  thousand,  or  nearly 
two  thousand,  people  would  attend,  and  that,  too,  in  a 
countiy  where  the  inhabitants  were  by  no  means 
numerous,  and  where  the  Gaelic  is  in  general  use 
among  the  common  people."  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  did 
not  return  to  Scotland  for  more  than  twenty  years 


188  MR.  hill's  last  visit  TO  SCOTLAND. 

after  this  second  journey.  He  was  in  his  eightieth 
year  when  he  paid  his  last  visit  to  Edinburgh,  the 
scenes  of  which  will  be  reserved  for  another  part  of 
this  volume.  His  mode  of  preaching  will  form  the 
subject  of  the  next  chapter. 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  PREACHING.  189 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  PREACHING. 


Mr.  Rowland  Hill  may  be  said  to  have  been  a 
preacher,  for  more  than  seventy  years.  A  cottage  on 
his  father's  estate  was  tiie  scene  of  his  first  attempts  to 
expomid  the  scriptures.  Some  of  the  tenantry  at- 
tended there  to  iiear  him,  which  coming  to  the  ears 
of  Sir  Rowland,  he  determined  to  inquire  into  the 
truth  of  the  report,  before  lie  noticed  it  to  his  son. 
He  accordingly  asked  a  half-witted  boy — "  who 
preaches  at  your  mother's  house  ?"  The  lad  replied 
— "the  young  man  thai  fettled  mother's  clock;"  and 
Sir  Rowland,  not  being  aware  that  the  young  preacher 
had  amused  himself  in  repairing  the  old  woman's 
clock,*  supposed  he  had  been  misinformed,  conse- 
qitently  no  interruption  was  given  to  the  preaching 
in  the  cottage.  To  those  who  have  never  heard  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill,  the  most  vivid  description  will  convey 
no  adequate  conception  of  the  uniqi,ic  mode  of  his  ad- 
dress, and  of  his  singularly  dignified  and  conmianding 
appearance  in  the  pulpit ;  nor  do  such  of  his  sermons 
as  have  been  printed,  alford  the  slightest  illustration 
of  the  style  of  his  natural  eloquence.     It  was  an  un- 


*  He  was  very  fond  of  this  employment.  Once,  at  a  friend's 
house,  he  had  retired,  as  the  company  supposed,  before  preach- 
ing, to  consider  his  sermon  ;  but  on  his  host's  entering  the  room 
to  inform  him  that  the  time  had  arrived  for  going  to  the  place  of 
worship,  he  found  him  with  an  old  clock,  all  to  pieces,  on  the 
table.  Mr.  Hill  said — "  I  have  been  mending  your  old  clock, 
and  I  will  finish  it  to-morrow."  He  preached  with  more  than 
usual  ease  and  fervour,  and  drew  several  beautiful  images  from 
the  occupation  in  which  his  friend,  to  his  surprise,  had  found  him 
engaged. 


190  MR.  ROWLAND  HILl's  PREACHING. 

interrupted  stream  of  ideas,  from  a  warm  heart  and 
fertile  imagination,  mingled  with  every  species  of  si- 
militude that  suggested  itself  to  his  mind  at  the  mo- 
ment. Robert  Hall  said  of  him — •'  no  man  has  over 
drawn,  since  the  days  of  our  Saviour,  such  sublime 
images  from  nature ;  here  Mr.  Hill  excels  every  other 
man."  Indeed,  his  excursive  mind  gathered  tribute  to 
his  Master's  cause,  from  every  portion  of  the  visible 
creation  ;  and  as  he  described  his  anticipations  of  the 
invisible  glories,  and  perfect  holiness  and  happiness  of 
the  inirevealed  scenes  of  heaven,  it  might  have  been 
thought,  at  times,  that,  like  an  angel,  he  had  seen 
them.  The  limits  of  this  work  will  allow  only  a  few 
specimens  of  his  most  striking  observations  in  the 
pulpit,  but  these  cannot  be  omitted. 

A  few  years  ago,  when  making  a  preaching  tour  in 
Yorkshire,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  paid  a  visit  to  an  old 
friend,  who  said  to  him — "  Mr.  Hill,  it  is  just  sixty- 
Jive  years  since  I  first  heard  you  preach,  and  I  re- 
member your  text,  and  part  of  your  sermon."  "  'Tis 
more  than  I  do,"  was  his  remark. — "  You  told  us," 
his  friend  proceeded,  "  that  some  people  were-  very 
squeamish  about  the  delivery  of  different  ministers, 
who  preached  the  same  gospel.  You  said,  suppose 
you  were  attending  to  hear  a  will  read,  where  you  ex- 
pected a  legacy  to  be  left  you,  would  you  employ  the 
time  when  it  was  reading,  in  criticising  the  manner 
in  which  the  lawyer  read  it  ?  No,  you  would  not ; 
you  would  be  giving  all  ear  to  hear  if  any  thing  was 
left  to  you,  and  how  much  it  was.  That  is  the  way 
I  would  advise  you  to  hear  the  gospel." 

The  energy  of  his  manner  at  times,  and  the  power 
of  his  voice,  were  almost  overwhelming.  Once,  at 
Wotton,  he  was  completely  carried  away  by  the  im- 
petuous rush  of  his  feelings,  and,  raising  himself  to 
his  full  stature,  he  exclaimed — "  Because  I  am  in  ear- 
nest, men  call  me  an  enthusiast ;  bitt  I  am  not ;  mine 
are  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness.  When  I  first 
came  into  this  part  of  the  country,  I  was  walking  on 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILl's  PREACHING.  191 

yonder  hill;  I  saw  a  gravel  pit  fall  in,  and  bur}'- three 
human  beings  alive.  I  lifted  up  my  voice  for  help,  so 
loud,  that  I  was  heard  in  the  town  below,  at  a  distance 
of  a  mile ;  help  came  and  rescued  two  of  the  poor 
sufferers.  No  one  called  me  an  enthusiast  then  ;  and 
when  I  see  eternal  destruction  ready  to  fall  upon  poor 
sinners,  and  about  to  entomb  them  irrecoverably  in 
an  eternal  mass  of  wo,  and  call  aloud  on  them  to  es- 
cape, shall  I  be  called  an  enthusiast  now?  No,  sinner, 
I  am  not  an  enthusiast  in  so  doing  ;  I  call  on  thee 
aloud  to  fly  for  refuge,  to  the  hope  set  before  thee  in 
the  gospel  of  Christ  Jesus." 

He  had  a  singular  facility  of  suiting  his  reasoning 
to  the  capacities  of  the  uneducated,  without  seeming 
to  be  aiming  low  ;  bringing  them  insensibly  up  to 
him,  and  not,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  offending  tliem 
by  a  direct  and  visible  effort  to  descend  on  their  ac- 
count. If  a  preacher  attempts  this,  the  lower  orders 
either  see  it,  and  are  displeased,  or  else  they  look 
upon  him  as  one  who  can  soar  no  higher.  The  bene- 
volent man  who  says  to  the  object  of  his  charity,  by 
word  or  manner — '•'■  This  plain  gift  is  good  enoush  for 
you,"  destroys  all  sensation  of  gfratitude  in  the  person 
he  relieves  ;  but  it  is  possible  to  befriend  a  distressed 
fellow  creature,  without  making  him  feel  the  lowness 
of  his  situation  ;  so  it  is  possible  to  come  down  to  the 
level  of  a  poor  man's  intellect,  without  giving  him  of- 
fence by  letting  him  know  with  what  vast  condescen- 
sion a  minister  is  trying  to  do  it.  The  following  is 
an  instance  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  management  of  this 
difiicultjr : — He  was  preaching  for  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society,  to  a  congregation  of  plain  farmers 
and  their  labourers.  Now,  it  is  a  very  common  ob- 
jection with  persons  of  this  description,  that  the  hea- 
then have  sufficient  light,  and  that,  therefore,  we 
might  let  them  alone,  and  do  more  at  home.  His 
object  was  to  reason  them  out  of  this  opinion,  and  he 
addressed  them  thus — "I  admit  that  the  heathen  have 
some  natural  light,  but  they  do  not  use  even  this 


192  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  PREACHING. 

aright.  Now,  suppose  the  whole  family  in  a  farm- 
house, assembled  round  the  large  kitchen  fire  on  a 
winter's  evening,  all  peaceful  and  happy.  Presently, 
the  stableman  opens  the  door,  and  cries  out,  '  Master, 
master,  the  thieves  are  robbing  the  hen-roost.'  Up 
they  all  start ;  the  farmer  rushes  to  his  closet  for  his 
lantern  ;  he  lights  the  candle,  and  runs  out,  and,  hold- 
ino-  up  the  light  nearly  to  his  head,  advances  with 
cautious  steps.  The  wheel-barrow  has  been  left  in  the 
way,  and  over  it  the  good  man  falls — and  why  /—be- 
cause he  has  no  light  ?- — no,  because  he  used  it  im- 
properly.    Thus  it  is  with  the  heathen," 

Once,  in  a  manufacturing  town,  the  subject  of  his 
preaching  was  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  On 
his  way  to  the  chapel  he  stopped  several  times,  and 
appeared  to  be  watching  with  interest,  the  ascent  of 
the  smoke  from  the  factory  cliimneys.  In  his  sermon, 
he  wished  to  describe  the  obedience  of  a  willing  soul, 
to  the  gentlest  breathings  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and 
said—"  I  have  been  watching  the  smoke,  as  it  went 
up  from  the  numerous  cliimneys  around  me ;  there 
was  scarcely  any  air.  yet  how  obediently  it  moved  in 
the  direction  of  the  softest  lireeze.  So  it  is  with  the 
regenerate  soul,  when  God  breathes  upon  its  renew- 
ed powers — He  makes  it  willing  in  the  day  of  his 
jjoioer.'^ 

A  very  favourite  subject  with  Mr.  Hill,  was  the  in- 
separable union  of  justification  and  sanctification.  He 
commenced  one  of  his  sermons  on  it  with  these  words, 
— "  God  cannot  make  us  happy,  except  lie  makes  us 
holy ;  therefore,  whom  he  justifies  he  necessarily  also 
sanctifies."  "  Then,"  he  would  say,  "  many  are  will- 
ing lo  be  justijied,  but  desire  not  to  be  sanctified. 
Not  so  with  me  ;  I  can  say  of  justification  and  of  sanc- 
tification like  the  child,  who  replied,  when  asked  which 
he  loved  best,  his  father  or  Iris  mother,  '  /  love  them 
both  best:'' 

When  speaking  of  the  love  and  holiness  of  God, 
he  seemed  to  rise  above  the  world,  and  his  counte- 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILl's  PREACHING.  193 

nance  beamed  with  an  almost  unearthly  illumination. 
Once  he  endeavoured  to  convey  to  his  hearers,  by  a 
variety  of  striking  illustrations,  some  idea  of  his  con- 
ceptions of  the  divine  love  ;  but  suddenly  he  cast  his 
eyes  towards  heaven,  and  exclaimed — "  but  I  am  un- 
able to  reach  the  lofty  theme  ! — yet  I  do  not  think, 
that  the  smallest  fish  that  swims  in  the  boundless 
ocean,  ever  complains  of  the  immeasurable  vastness 
of  the  deep.  So  it  is  with  me  ;  I  can  plunge  with  my 
puny  capacity  into  a  subject,  the  immensity  of  which 
I  shall  never  be  able  fully  to  comprehend  !" 

No  man  was  ever  more  practical  in  his  preaching ; 
let  your  light  shine,  was  his  constant  exhortation. 
"  If  the  sun  shines,"  he  would  say,  "  on  a  dull  brick  or 
stone,  they  reflect  none  of  its  beams ;  there  is  nothing 
in  them  capable  of  this  ;  nor  is  there  in  an  ungodly 
man,  any  natural  power  of  reflecting  the  light  of  God. 
But  let  the  sun  shine  upon  a  diamond,  and  see  what 
rays  of  sparkling  beauty  it  emits.  .Tust  so  the  Chris- 
tian who  has  the  graces  of  the  spirit ;  when  God 
shines  on  his  soul,  beams  of  celestial  loveliness  are 
reflected  by  him  on  the  world."  "  The  Christian's 
character,"  he  said,  "should  5«vo7/r  of  hohness.  The 
promise  is,  I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel ;  and  how 
sweet  is  the  fragrance  of  the  flower,  after  the  gentle 
falling  of  the  dew — so  must  the  true  believer  be,  un- 
der the  soft  distilment  of  the  droppings  of  heaven  on 
his  heart."  "Cultivate,"  he  often  urged,  "a  spirit  of 
love.  Love  is  the  diamond,  amongst  thejewelsof  the 
believer's  breastplate.  The  other  graces  shine,  like 
the  precious  stones  of  nature,  with  their  own  pecuhar 
lustre  and  various  hues  ;  but  the  diamond  is  white — 
now  in  white  all  the  colours  are  united  :  so  in  love  is 
centered  every  other  Christian  grace  and  virtue — love 
is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law.  It  is  the  only  source  of  true 
obedience  to  the  commands  of  God."  "If  we  love 
God,"  he  used  to  say,  "we  must  necessarily  love  that 
holy  law,  which  is  a  transcript  of  liis  divine  mind 
and  will.  Some  people  will  tell  you  that  if  you  would 
17 


194  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL'S  PREACHING, 

gain  heaven,  you  must  pass  throingh  a  self-denying 
course  of  the  practice  of  virtue  and  obedience — they 
make  rehgion  house  of  correction  work — no,  no,  I 
love  the  service  of  my  God ;  hke  the  bird,  I  fiy  at 
hberty,  on  the  wings  of  ray  obedience  to  his  holy 
will."  Frequently  he  described  the  nature  of  Christ- 
ian obedience,  by  saying,  "  The  grace  of  God  begets, 
in  the  man  that  is  born  of  the  spirit,  a  natural  hatred 
to  sin,  though  he  loved  it  in  his  old  estate.  The 
vulture's  nature  is  to  prey,  with  horrid  preference,  on 
the  putrid  carcasses  of  the  dead.  But  did  you  ever 
see  the  gentle  dove  gorging  this  loathsome  food  ? 
So  the  sinner  feeds  with  delight  on  the  nauseous 
enjoyments  of  his  iniquity,  like  the  carrion-eating 
bird  of  prey,  while  the  regenerate  soul  has  a  holy 
disgust  of  all  that  is  offensive  to  its  heavenly  na- 
ture." 

His  views  of  the  efficacy  of  prayer  were  singularly 
happy.  "  We  know,"  were  his  words,  "  that  the  infi- 
nite God  cannot  be  moved  or  actually  drawn  nearer 
to  us  by  prayer,  but  prayer  draws  the  Christian  nearer 
to  God.  If  a  boat  is  attached  to  a  large  vessel  by  a 
rope,  the  person  in  the  former  does  not  bring  the  ship 
nearer  to  him  by  his  pulling  the  rope,  but  he  brings 
the  boat,  and  himself  in  it,  nearer  to  the  ship.  So  the 
more  fervently  we  pray,  the  nearer  we  bring  our- 
selves to  the  Lord  most  high.  The  Christian  is  there- 
fore enjoined  to  pray  loiiliovt  ceasing ;  not  that  he 
can  be  always  engaged  in  the  positive  act,  but  he 
ought  to  have,  what  I  call  a  holy  aptitude  for  prayer. 
The  bird  is  not  always  on  the  wing,  but  he  is  ready 
to  fly  in  an  instant ;  so  the  believer  is  not  always  on 
the  wing  of  prayer,  but  he  has  such  a  gracious  apti- 
tude for  this  exercise,  that  he  is  prepared  in  an  instant^ 
when  in  danger  or  need,  to  fly  for  refuge  to  his  God. 
In  all  the  avocations  of  time,  the  child  of  God  will 
never  lose  sight  of  his  heavenly  father.  I  have  often 
seen- a  little  child  following  his  parent  in  the  fields, 
and  stooping  now  and  then  to  gather  a  few  flowers, . 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  PREACHING.  195 

He  looks  up  and  sees  him  at  a  distance ;  the  Httle 
creature  runs  and  gets  up  to  him  again,  afraid  he 
should  go  too  far  away.  So  the  Christian,  while  ga- 
thering a  few  flowers  from  the  world,  suffers  his  God 
to  be  often  a  distance  from  him ;  but  the  instant  he 
perceives  that  he  is  alone,  he  runs  to  reach  again  his 
father,  protector,  and  friend." 

He  had  a  happy  mode  of  contrasting  the  light  of 
reason  with  the  light  of  religion.  "  By  the  light  of 
reason,"  he  would  say,  "  we  cast  a  sort  of  glaring  illu- 
sion around  ourselves ;  but  if  confided  in,  it  tends  only 
to  obscure  our  vision  of  more  exalted  glories.  Illu- 
minate this  towai ;  the  streets  are  light,  while  the  hea- 
vens are  lost  in  darkness  ;  but  when  the  day  breaks 
forth,  both  the  earth  and  the  sky  become  visible.  So 
the  sparks  of  our  own  kindling,  while  they  shed  an 
artificial  brilliancy  for  a  short  distance  around  us,  in- 
volve the  scenes  above  in  shadows  even  darker  than 
those  of  night ;  but  if  the  day  spring  from  on  high 
da\vn  in  the  soul,  we  have  clear  views  both  of  earth 
and  heaven." 

The  effect  of  his  bursts  of  eloquence  were  much 
heightened,  by  their  flashing  forth  unstudied,  the  in- 
stant the  idea,  oft  in  reference  to  some  present  object, 
arose  in  his  mind.  On  one  occasion,  when  past  the 
age  usually  allotted  to  man,  he  was  preaching  on  a 
summer's  evening  to  an  immense  crowd,  assembled 
partly  within  and  partly  without  the  walls  of  a  chapel. 
A  window  was  taken  out,  and  he  stood  on  the  seat  for 
a  pulpit,  so  that  all  heard  him.  Ere  he  concluded, 
the  sun,  in  unclouded  glory,  had  just  reached  the  edge 
of  the  horizon  ;  he  pointed  to  it  and  exclaimed,  in  a 
tone  of  the  sublimest  energy,  "  See  you  the  sun,  how 
majestically  and  brightly  it  sheds  its  parting  beams 
around  you  !  I  have  heard,  that  the  rays  of  the  setting 
sun  produce  a  most  salutary  effect  on  the  vegetable 
world — O  that  my  setting  sun,  which  must  soon  go 
down  in  death,  may,  during  the  evening  of  my  days, 
be  more  and  more  blessed,  in  shedding  a  beneficial 


196  MR.  ROWLAND  HILl's  PREACHING. 

light  on  the  trees  the  Lord  hath  planted,  and  is  water- 
ing to  his  glory." 

"The  real  secret  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  preaching 
having  been,  at  times,  somewhat  tinctured  with  the 
ludicrous,  was,  that  he  seemed  as  though  he  were 
unable  to  restrain  the  rapid  succession  of  ideas  which 
crowded  into  his  mind,  and  tended  to  explaui  his 
meaning.  It  will  be  easily  believed,  that  the  majority 
of  the  stories  told  of  liis  pulpit  peculiarities,  are  with- 
out the  slightest  foundation ;  nor  did  he  ever  yield 
to  the  force  of  the  vis  cotnica,  which  had  so  great  a 
natural  power  over  his  faculties,  except  for  the  sake 
of  illustration.  For  instance,  when  he  was  preach- 
ing to  very  plain  people,  lie  said,  "  I  want  you  to 
have  a  holy  aversion  to  sin.  Do  you  know  what  I 
mean  by  aversion?  Suppose  any  one  of  you  were 
to  put  your  hand  into  your  pocket  and  feel  a  toad 
there,  you  would  draw  it  out  instantly  from  an  aver- 
sion to  the  animal.  Now  my  desire  is,  that  when 
conscious  of  the  presence  of  sin,  you  should  have 
just  such  an  aversion  as  this  to  it— a  hatred  of  it.  and 
disgust  at  its  horrid  nature."  One  day,  when  speak- 
ing of  vanity  in  dress,  and  the  inconsistency  of  it 
in  Christians,  he  looked  archly,  and  said,  "I  am, 
like  old  John  Bunyan,  thankful  to  say,  that  I  have 
only  one  man  in  my  country  congregation  who  wears 
a  jngtail.^^  It  is  impossible  not  to  acknowledge,  as 
he  did  freely,  that  he  was  at  times  too  ready  to  use 
expressions  calculated  to  produce  a  smile  on  the 
countenances  of  his  hearers.  Still,  while  the  truth 
of  this  is  readily  confessed,  the  exaggerations  must 
be  contradicted, 

The  few  sermons  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  published, 
were  written  by  him  from  recollection,  or  from  notes 
taken  by  others  at  the  time  of  their  delivery,  but  give 
no  idea  of  the  freedom  and  perfect  ease  of  his  man- 
ner. He  placed  no  restraint  upon  his  flow  of  feel- 
ing ;  the  exuberant  fountain  of  his  mind  seemed  ca- 
pable of  an  endless  streajn,  of  ^yery  possible  variety 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  PREACHING.  197 

of  thought  and  image.  Perhaps  the  best  specimen 
of  his  printed  sermons,  is  the  one  preached  on  Sun- 
day, December  4th,  1803,  to  the  volunteers  assembled 
at  Surry  chapel,  from  Psalm  xx.  7,  8.  It  was  on  this 
occasion  that  he  introduced  his  hymn  to  the  tune  of 
"God  save  the  King."     The  words  were, 

Come,  thou  incarnate  word, 
Gird  on  thy  mighty  sword, 

Our  prayer  attend  : 
Come,  and  thy  people  bless, 
.  And  give  thy  word  success, 
Spirit  of  holiness 

On  us  descend ! 

O  may  thy  servant  be 
Fill'd  with  sweet  liberty, 

Clothed  with  power ! 
Bid,  Lord,  the  dead  arise 
By  thy  almighty  voice; 
May  we  in  thee  rejoice 

In  this  glad  hour. 

After  the  sermon,  the  hymn,  which  he  wrote  to  the 
tune  of  "Rule  Britannia,"  was  sung  with  wonderful 
effect  by  the  immense  congregation,  all  standing. 

THE  KINGDOM  OF  IMMANUEL  EXALTED. 

When  Jesus  first  at  heaven's  command 
Descended  from  his  azure  throne, 
Attending  angels  joined  his  praise, 
Who  claim'd  the  kingdoms  for  his  own. 
Hail  Immanuel — Immanuel  we'll  adore, 
And  sound  his  fame  from  shore  to  shore. 

Girt  with  omnipotence  supreme. 
The  powers  of  darkness  trembling  stood 
To  hear  the  dire  decree,  and  feel 
The  vengeance  of  the  mighty  God  ! 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

Not  with  the  sword  that  warriors  wear, 
But  with  a  sceptre  dipt  in  blood, 
He  bends  the  nations  to  obey. 
And  rules  them  by  the  love  of  God. 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

17* 


198  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL^S  PREACHING. 

O  may  the  memory  of  his  name, 
Inspire  our  armies  for  the  fight ; 
Our  vaunting  foes  shall  die  with  shame, 
Or  quit  our  coasts  with  hasty  flight. 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

In  his  salvation  is  our  boast, 
And  in  the  strength  of  Israel's  God 
Our  troops  shall  lift  their  banners  high. 
Our  navies  spread  their  flags  abroad. 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

Soon  may  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth, 
From  sin  and  Satan's  dreadful  thrall. 
By  thy  great  power  and  grace  be  freed, 
And  Christ  alone  be  all  in  all. 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

Ride  on  and  prosper,  King  of  kings, 
'Till  all  the  powers  of  hell  resign 
Their  dreadful  trophies  at  thy  feet ; 
And  endless  glory  shall  be  thine. 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

In  the  copy  published  in  his  hymn  book,  Mr.  Hill 
omitted  the  three  verses  which  have  reference  to  the 
particular  occasion  for  which  they  were  composed, 
and  added  the  two  following: — 

Go  with  thy  servants,,  glorious  Lord, 
And  bid  them  tread  the  tempter  down  j 
Be  more  than  conqueror  by  thy  word 
And  wear  the  rmiversal  crown. 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

Soon  shall  the  monster,  sin,  submit 
His  hateful  sceptre  to  thy  call ; 
Death,  and  death's  author  soon  shall  die, 
And  Jesus  Christ  be  all  in  all. 
Hail  Immanuel,  &c. 

The  singing-  of  this  last  hymn,  as  it  was  occasion- 
ally heard  at  Surry  chapel,  by  three  thousand  peo- 
ple, led  by  a  first-rate  player  on  an  organ  of  very 
superior  powers,  afforded,  probably,  one  of  the  most 
inspiring  examples  of  congregational  music  ever 
heard.  This  was  admitted,  even  by  those  who  dis- 
approved the  introduction  of  the  air  into  the  worship 


MR.  ROWLAND    HILL's  PREACHING.  199 

of  God.  Indeed  the  singing  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
London  congregation,  was  a  striking  proof  of  what 
may  be  effected,  by  proper  pains,  with  this  delightful 
portion  of  our  public  service,  which  is  too  often  per- 
formed with  disgraceful  negligence. 

In  the  country,  as  has  been  before  stated,  almost 
every  summer's  evening  was  spent  by  Mr.  Hill  in 
preaching  in  the  villages  around  his  residence.  After 
an  early  dinner,  his  phaeton  drove  up  to  the  door, 
and  he  used  his  equipage,  not  in  the  ostentatious  va- 
nities of  the  world,  but  to  carry  him  to  proclaim  to 
the  poor  and  the  ignorant,  the  way  of  life  and  peace. 
The  peasantry  all  knew  his  errand,  and  many  of  his 
hearers  who  kept  horses,  rode  to  the  various  places 
ill  which  he  was  to  preach.  They  greeted  him  on  the 
road  with  a  respectful  and  affectionate  smile,  and  by 
the  time  he  reached  the  spot  selected  for  his  sermon, 
he  was  not  unfrequently  attended  by  a  considerable 
cavalcade.  The  poor  bowed  and  curtsied  as  he  went 
along,  and  sometimes  a  simple-hearted  creature  would 
cry  out — "  God  bless  you,  sir,  I  wish  you  a  good  op- 
portunity." When  he  came  to  the  appointed  village, 
some  honest  farmer  often  claimed  the  privilege  of 
providing  a  stable  for  his  horses,  and  he  commenced 
his  labour  of  love,  amidst  the  smiles  and  the  prayers 
of  many  humble  followers  of  the  Saviour.  In  this 
respect,  the  latter  part  of  his  days  presented  a  happy 
contrast  to  his  early  life.  In  one  town,  a  horse-dealer, 
who  possessed  considerable  stable  room,  was  deter- 
mined to  have  the  honour  of  providing  for  his  horses, 
and  no  persuasion  could  induce  the  man  to  receive 
the  slightest  gratuity.  The  kindness  he  received,  at 
times  quite  overpowered  him,  especially  when  he  re- 
flected on  what  he  had  suffered  in  his  former  days ; 
and  on  these  occasions,  his  words  were  accompanied 
with  an  unction  and  feeling  that  melted  the  hearts  of 
those  who  heard  him.  "  O  my  dear  hearers,"  he 
would  say,  "  may  the  Lord  bring  home  his  own  pre- 
cious word  to  your  souls  \  may  the  sweet  influences 


200  MR.  ROWLAND  HILl's  PREACHING, 

of  divine  grace  inspire  you  with  all  the  tenderness  of 
a  Saviour's  love,  and  lay  you  low  at  the  foot  of  his 
cross.  Many  a  poor  man  makes  a  bright  Christian  ; 
God  keeps  him  humble,  that  he  may  dwell  in  his  heart, 
and  that  the  beams  of  his  grace  may  shine  in  his  life. 
I  love  the  poor,  the  lowly  believer.  See  yon  even- 
ing star  how  bright  it  shines  ;  how  pure,  how  gentle 
are  its  rays — but  look,  it  is  lower  in  the  heavens,  than 
those  that  sparkle  with  a  restless  twinkling,  in  the 
higher  regions  of  the  sky.  God  keeps  you  low  that 
you  may  shine  bright."  Then  he  would  suddenly 
change  his  image — "where  do  the  rivers  run  that  fer- 
tilize our  soil — is  it  on  the  barren  top  of  yonder  hill? 
No,  in  the  vales  beneath.  If  you  would  have  the  ri- 
ver, whose  streams  make  glad  the  city  of  our  God,  to 
run  through  your  hearts  and  enrich  them  to  his  glory, 
you  must  abide  in  the  vale  of  humility."  Simple  ad- 
dresses of  this  kind  were  understood  and  remem- 
bered by  his  poor  hearers;  thus  his  ministry  remain- 
ed in  their  hearts,  and  his  Idndness  engaged  their 
affections. 

The  anxiety  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  mind  at  times, 
before  he  entered  on  the  solemn  work  of  preaching, 
was  very  remarkable.  He  seemed  quite  lost  in  re- 
flection, and  every  now  and  then  ejaculated  in  a  low 
tone,  "  Lord  help  me  to  preach."  On  such  occasions 
too,  he  was  absent  in  the  highest  degree,  and  scarce- 
ly knew  what  he  did.  A  colonel  in  the  Engineers,  to 
whom  his  ministry  had  been  made  useful,  was  very 
anxious  to  be  mtroduced  to  him.  In  the  evening  of 
the  day  on  which  they  were  made  known  to  each 
other,  Mr.  Hill  was  going  to  preach  at  Woolwich, 
and  asked  his  new  acquaintance  to  accompany  him 
in  his  phaeton.  A  favourite  dog  jumped  into  the 
carriage,  and  was  suffered  to  go  with  them.  The 
pious  officer  hoped  for  some  conversation ;  but  his 
companion  appeared  unconscious  of  his  presence,  and 
went  on  whispering  to  himself  the  ari-angement  of 
his  sermon,  pulling  at  the  same  time  the  hairs  out  of 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL'S  PREACHING.  201 

the  dog's  back,  and  spreading  them  on  the  colonel's 
knee  !  He  was  very  much  amused,  with  the  absence 
of  the  minister  for  whom  he  had  conceived  so  great 
a  veneration,  but  said  he  was  glad  his  train  of  thought 
was  not  interrupted,  for  such  a  sermon  he  had  never 
heard  before,  as  Mr.  Hill  preached  that  night. 

His  ascent  of  the  pulpit  stairs  in  his  old  age  was 
most  striking.  His  venerable  figure,  his  slow  and 
solemn  step,  the  evident  fulness  of  his  mind  wrapt  up 
in  his  subject,  his  commanding  air  and  perfect  self- 
possession,  combined  to  produce  the  feeling  that  his 
people  often  expressed,  "it  does  us  good  if  we  can 
only  see  him."  As  soon  as  he  felt  a  Saviour's  love 
when  a  boy,  he  rejoiced  in  proclaiming  it  to  others, 
despising  the  shame  ;  and  his  only  grief  when  the 
feebleness  of  age  came  upon  him,  was  that  he  could 
not  be  a  more  laborious  labourer  in  the  vineyard  of 
Christ. 


202  RELIGIOUS  TRACT  SOCIETY. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

RELIGIOUS  TRACT  SOCIETY. 

In  the  year  1799  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  assisted  in  the 
formation  of  the  Religious  Tract  Society.  He  was 
the  chairman  of  its  first  comi^iittee,  and  always  re- 
garded this  excellent  institution  as  one  of  the  most 
useful  societies  of  the  age.  He  contributed  to  it  se- 
veral interesting  tracts,  which  have  had  a  very  exten- 
sive circulation. 

The  speeches  of  Mr.  Hill  at  public  meetings,  were 
not  less  original,  than  the  imagery  of  his  sermons  de- 
scribed in  die  last  chapter.  His  addresses  on  these 
occasions  were  invariably  short,  and  not  unfrequently 
contained  an  innocent  and  witty  philippic,  against  those 
long  harangTies  by  which  the  patience  of  hearers  is  so 
often  exhausted.  He  used  to  tell  the  following  droll 
story  of  what  he  said  on  one  occasion.    "  His  Royal 

Higtniess  the  Duke  of was  in  the  chair,  and 

kindly  desired  me  to  sit  next  liim.  A  man  absolutely 
had  the  bad  taste  to  spin  out  his  dull  tiresome  oratory 
for  more  than  an  hour.  Some  of  the  people,  tired  to 
death,  as  well  they  might,  went  away.  His  Royal 
Highness  whispered  to  me — '  really  Mr.  Hill  I  do  not 
think  I  can  sit  to  hear  such  another  speech  as  this ; 
I  wish  you  would  give  one  of  your  good  natured 
hints  about  it.'  It  was  my  turn  next;  so  I  said  '  may 
it  please  your  Royal  Highness,  ladies,  and  gentlemen, 
I  am  not  going  to  make  either  a  long  or  a  moving 
speech.  The  first  is  a  rudeness  ;  and  the  second  is 
not  required  to-day,  after  the  very  moving  one  you 
have  just  heard— so  moving,  that  several  of  the  com- 
pany have  been  7noved  by  it  out  of  the  room — nay,  I 


LONO  SPEECHES.  203 

even  fear,  such  another  would  so  ijiove  his  Royal 
Highness  himself,  that  he  would  be  unable  to  con- 
tinue in  the  chair  ;  and  would,  to  the  great  regret  of 
the  meeting,  be  obliged  to  move  off.'  This  ticlded 
his  Royal  Highness  and  the  assembly,  and  we  had  no 
more  long  speeches  that  day." 

As  he  grew  older,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  impatience 
of  the  length,  at  which  some  people  venture  to  speak, 
did  not  at  all  diminish.  The  following  reply  to  an 
invitation  to  preside  at  a  meeting  of  the  Tract  So- 
ciety, will  show  his  feeling  on  this  subject ;  and  if  it 
operates  as  a  hint  to  such  as  are  more  lengthy  than 
luminous,  on  similar  occasions,  many  a  chairman,  and 
many  a  hearer,  will  have  reason  to  be  glad  that  it  was 
preserved  to  be  inserted  here. 

Wotton,  Sept.  20, 1826. 
My  dear  friend, 

An  old  man,  in  the  83rd  year  of  his  age,  ought  to 
be  a  little  provident  of  his  remaining  strength.  You 
will  say,  no  bodily  strength  can  be  needed,  to  sit 
quietly  in  a  chair  at  a  public  meeting.  True,  but  no 
small  degree  of  mental  patience  is  needed,  while  the 
poor  chairman  must  sit  it  out  for  three  hours  at  the 
least,  to  hear  many  a  tiresome  long  speech  (if  they 
are  not  all  of  the  same  sort)  without  any  remedy  or 
redress,  upon  the  high  fidgets,  above  half  the  time 
gaping  and  watching  the  clock.  In  most  of  these 
public  meetings  I  have  been  tired  down  before  they 
have  been  half  over,  and  have  been  obliged  to  sheer 
off  with  the  remains  of  my  patience,  and  leave  the 
finishing  to  others,  while  nothing  but  a  short  speech 
might  have  been  expected  from  me. 

In  the  way  in  which  too  many  of  these  sort  of 
meetings  are  now  conducted,  I  have  my  fears,  that 
many  a  good  cause  is  injured  by  the  means  adopted 
for  their  support.  Though  some  may  be  gratified  by 
what  may  be  said  to  the  point,  yet  O  the  dulness,  the 
circumlocutiousness,  the  conceit,  the  tautology,  <fcc. 


204  POPULARITY. 

&c.  of  Others.  In  short,  few  know  how  to  be  pithy, 
short,  and  sweet.  And  as  I  find  it  very  difficult  to  be 
pithy  and  sweet,  my  refus^e  at  all  times  is  to  be 
short.  Pity  therefore  a  poor  old  man,  and  let  him 
not  be  sentenced  to  suffer  such  a  sort  of  pillorj^  pun- 
ishment, and  try  if  you  cannot  persuade  some  other 
good  tempered  sinner  to  suffer  in  his  stead. 
Yours  very  sincerely  and  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 
Mr.  Jones, 

Religious  Tract  Society, 

Paternoster  Row,  London. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  antipathy  to  long  speeches 
was  not  stronger  than  his  disgust  at  the  unmeaning 
flourishes,  which  are  too  often  introduced  into  ser- 
mons, to  catch  the  vulgar  ear,  rather  than  to  touch 
the  sinner's  heart.  His  remarks  on  this  failing,  though 
in  an  eccentric  style,  are  well  worthy  of  notice. 
"  Fine  affected  flourishes,"  he  says  in  a  letter  to  a 
friend,  "and  unmeaning  rant,  are  poor  substitutes  for 
plain,  simple,  unaffected  gospel  truths ;  yet  such  sort 
of  preaching  will  have  its  admirers ;  and  it  is  surpris- 
ing what  strange  stuff  of  different  sorts  will  make  up 
a  popular  preacher,  insomuch  that  being  registered  in 
that  number,  should  rather  fill  us  with  shame  than 
with  pride."  Speaking  of  the  spurious  popularity  of 
one  individual,  and  of  the  crowds  who  were  attracted 
by  his  declamatory  and  florid  style,  he  observed — • 
"  they  are  quite  tired  of  being  hammered  with  the 
same  threadbare  old  truths.  They  are  for  the  man 
who  can  carry  them  away,  upon  the  wings  of  his 
amazing  oratory,  up  into  the  third  heavens  among  the 
angels  and  archangels,  and  turn  them  into  spiritual 
star-gazers  at  a  single  flight.  They  cannot  bear  any 
longer  to  be  kept  creeping  on  their  knees,  as  poor  sin- 
ners at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  while  they  have  nothing 
to  do  but  to  catch  hold  of  the  tail  of  this  wonderful 
fine  spiritual  kite,  and  fly  away  with  him  wherever  he 


INTERESTING  NOTICE.  205 

may  choose  to  carry  them."  When  once  asked  his 
opinion  of  the  excitement  produced  by  a  well  known 
preacher,  he  said,  "  this  cannot  last;  he  is  like  a  sky- 
rocket that  goes  off  blazing  into  the  air  ;  but  the  dry 
stick  soon  falls  to  the  ground,  and  is  forgotten." 

Probably  one  great  cause  of  the  usefulness  of  Mr* 
Rowland  Hill's  own  preaching,  was  his  utter  forget- 
fulness  of  self,  when  engaged  in  delivering  his  mes- 
sage to  sinners.  His  warnings  came  from  a  heart 
awed  with  the  terrors  of  the  Lord,  his  descriptions  of 
religious  experience  were  faithful  delineations  of  the 
workingof  his  own  mind,  and  his  invitations  to  Christ, 
were  poured  forth  with  all  the  tenderness  of  one  who 
really  yearned  over  souls.  He  expressed  the  desires, 
feelings,  and  recollections  of  the  instant,  so  that  even 
immediately  after  preaching,  he  did  not  remember 
what  he  had  said ;  and  often  has  he  declared,  that  he 
never  reached  the  foot  of  the  pulpit  stairs,  without 
the  impression  that  he  had  not  discharged  his  office 
as  he  ought.  Hence,  scarcely  a  Sunday  passed  A\ath- 
out  some  notice  of  his  success.  One  little  slip  of  pa- 
per placed  in  his  hands  in  the  pulpit,  is  a  very  strik- 
ing instance  of  deep  conviction,  in  an  individual  who 
afterwards  had  much  joy  and  peace  in  believing.  It 
was  written  in  a  beautiful  hand,  and  worded  thus : — 
"  Will  God  indeed  hear  prayer  for  a  hardened  and 
impenitent  sinner,  who  would  mourn  over  his  vile- 
ness,  but  cannot ;  who  longs  to  approach  his  mercy- 
seat,  and  to  draw  near  to  the  table  of  the  Lord,  but 
dares  not ;  whose  soul  is  darlaiess,  and  his  heart  cold 
within  him!  Oh  !  that  Jesus  would  shine  into  his 
soul,  and  chase  away  the  clouds  of  sin  that  involve 
it,  that  he  may  no  longer  go  sighing  all  the  day  long, 
as  they  that  have  no  hope,  smd  no  consolation. 

The  person  who  thus  depicted  the  first  workings  of 
Jreligion  in  his  soul,  was  publicly  invited  to  an  inter- 
view in  private  with  Mr.  Hill.     After  a  long  delay, 

18 


206  VISITS  TO  THE  SICK.       HYMN. 

he  came  trembling  to  confer  with  his  beloved  pastor, 
who  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  him,  at  last,  in  the 
full  enjoymentof  the  perfect  love  which  casteth  out  fear. 

The  interest  with  which  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  watch- 
ed the  closing  scenes  of  his  converts,  walking  as  it 
were  by  their  side  to  the  very  gates  of  death,  and  con- 
sidering the  end  of  each  of  them  as  a  memento  of  his 
own,  is  worthy  the  imitation  of  every  minister.  His 
calnmess  in  the  chamber  of  the  dying,  the  tenderness 
with  which  he  held  forth  the  love  of  Jesus,  as  the  only 
refuge  of  the  expiring  believer,  and  his  composed  and 
solemn  commendation  of  the  soul  to  God,  were  won- 
derfully contrasted  with  his  agitation,  when  he  left 
the  bedside  of  one  he  loved,  but  whom  he  wa^s  soon 
to  lose.  The  emotions  he  had  svippressed,  often  vent- 
ed themselves  on  these  occasions  in  tears,  but  oftener 
in  a  violent  sickness,  which  would  have  alarmed  a 
stranger,  and  was  most  distressing  to  his  friends. 
Nor  did  his  anxiety  for  his  dying  hearers  end  with 
the  ebullition  of  his  sorrow  ;  he  thought  of  them  often^ 
and  sometimes  composed  hymns  which  he  sent  them. 

The  depth  of  Mr.  Hill's  piety,  was  never  more  per- 
ceptible than  in  his  hymns.  The  one  entitled  "  a 
Prayer  for  the  Promised  Rest"  he  considered  as  the 
best  he  ever  wrote  :  it  has  been  repeated  with  a  holy 
joy,  by  many  of  his  flock  in  the  approach  of  death. 

A  PRAYER  FOR  THE  PROMISED  REST. 

Dear  friend  of  friendless  sinners,  hear, 
And  magnify  thy  grace  divine, 
Pardon  a  worm  that  woitld  draw  near, 
That  would  his  heart  to  thee  resign  : 
A  worm,  by  self  and  sin  opprest. 
That  pants  to  reach  thy  promis'd  rest. 

With  holy  fear,  and  reverend  love, 
I  long  to  lie  beneath  thy  throne ; 
I  long  in  thee  to  live  and  move, 
And  charge  myself  on  thee  alone : 
Teach  me  to  lean  upon  thy  breast, 
To  find  in  thee  the  promis'd  rest. 


VILLAGE  DIALOGUES.  207 

Thou  say'st  thou  wilt  thy  servants  keep 
In  perfect  peace,  whose  minds  shall  be 
Like  new  Born  babes,  or  helpless  sheep, 
Completely  stay'd,  dear  Lord,  on  thee: 
How  calm  their  state,  how  truly  blest, 
Who  trust  on  thee,  the  promis'd  rest. 

Take  me,  my  Saviour,  eis  thine  own, 
And  vindicate  my  righteous  cause, 
Be  thou  my  portion,  Lord,  alone, 
And  bend  me  to  obey  thy  laws ; 
In  thy  dear  arms  of  love  caress'd 
Give  me  to  find  thy  promis'd  rest 

Bid  the  tempestuous  rage  of  sin, 
With  all  its  wrathful  fury  die ; 
Let  the  Redeemer  dwell  within, 
And  turn  my  sorrows  into  joy  ; 
O  may  my  heart,  by  thee  possess'd, 
Know  thee  to  be  my  promis'd  rest. 

It  is  time,  however,  that  we  pass  on  from  these  di- 
gressions to  a  more  regular  narration  of  events. 

About  the  year  1800,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  conceived 
the  idea  of  composing  his  Village  Dialogues,  the  cha- 
racter of  which  is  too  well  Imown  to  need  description 
in  these  pages.  "Why,  sir,"  it  was  remarked  to  him, 
"your  dialogues  make  us  laugh  and  cry  in  the  same 
breath  !"  "  To  be  sure,"  said  he,  "  that  is  just  what  I 
did  when  I  wrote  them."  "But,  sir,  you  are  scarcely 
justified,  are  you,  in  the  satirical  attack  you  have  made 
upon  the  church?"  "What!  Attack  upon  the  church! 
I  meant  no  such  thing — why,  how  unreasonable  it  is 
to  say  so — look  you,  the  hero  of  my  piece  is  a  clergy- 
man of  the  most  truly  evangelical  character." 

The  preface  to  the  dialogues  informs  us,  that  the 
author's  chief  adviser,  during  the  progi'ess  of  the  work, 
was  the  excellent  Mr.  Ambrose  Serle.  The  letters  of 
this  able  and  pious  man  on  the  subject,  will  be  read 
with  great  interest  by  those  acquainted  with  the  Vil- 
lage Dialogues.     The  first  is  as  follows  :— ^ 

James  Street,  26th  May,  1801. 
Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

You  must  have  thought  me  extremely  rude,  by 


208  LETTER  OF  MR.  AMBROSE  SERLE. 

my  loiifi^  omission  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
friendly  letter ;  but  the  fact  is,  I  have  been  absent  from 
town  on  public  business,  for  these  last  five  weeks,  two 
days  excepted,  and  therefore  could  not  avoid  the  delay. 
The  littletracts  on  which  you  condescend  to  ask  my 
opinion,  though  your  own  knowledge  and  experience 
must  have  rendered  you  a  far  more  competent  judge 
than  I  am,  do  certainly  contain  many  great,  solid,  and 
fundamental  truths,  which  no  man  can  dispute,  with- 
out bringing  into  doubt  the  reality  of  his  own  faith 
and  hope  as  a  Christian  ;  and  [  conceive  it  to  be  my 
duty  earnestly  to  pray,  that  the  widest  dissemination 
of  those  evangelical  principles,  consonant  as  they  are 
to  the  articles  and  homilies  of  the  established  church, 
may  take  place  throughout  the  world.  But  I  conclude 
that  not  the  principles  themselves,  but  the  manner  in 
which  they  are  oiFered,  have  raised  a  difficulty  among 
your  friends.  I  ouni,  with  respect  to  myself,  (though 
I  have  formerly  been  a  defaulter,)  that  the  grave  and 
the  solemn  subjects  of  death,  and  hell,  and  a  judg- 
ment to  come,  with  all  that  relates  to  God  and  the  sal- 
vation of  man,  seem  to  require  a  weighty  seriousness 
of  spirit,  thoroughly  impressed  with  an  humble,  awful 
sense  of  matters  most  indisputably  momentous  and 
sublime  ;  but  I  cannot  dare  absolutely  to  condemn  a 
more  lively  frame  of  mind  in  others  than  I  can  choose 
to  allow  in  myself,  because  I  have  seen  the  blessing  of 
God  co-operating  with  writing  and  discourses,  abound- 
ing with  sallies  of  high  vivacity  and  genius,  which 
perhaps  persons  of  a  reserved  or  melancholy  temper, 
not  warranted,  however,  by  religion,  which  is  joy  and 
peace  in  itself,  might  be  inclined  to  dislike  or  refuse. 
Spiritual  hilarity,  too,  may  have  its  exorbitances  as 
well  as  the  natural ;  and  this  ease  of  heart  often  ex- 
poses men,  otherwise  humble  and  serious,  to  cheerful 
sensations, bynomeansaccommodated  to  people  under 
trials,  anxieties,  or  temptations.  The  case,  therefore, 
must  be  left  to  God,  with  due  allowance  for  the  pe- 
culiar turns  of  the  human  mind,  which  grace  does  not 


LETTER.  OF  MR.  AMBROSE  SERLE.  209 

alter,  but  improve,  and  which  vary  in  almost  every 
person  we  meet  with  ;  and  these,  when  the  great 
points  are  correct,  become  a  proper  subject  for  mutual 
charity  and  forbearance  among  Christians. 

Possibly  some  of  your  friends  may  be  offended,  at 
what  they  suppose  an  implied  censure  upon  the  great 
body  of  the  ministers  of  the  established  church.  I  be- 
wail the  melancholy  fact,  however,  that  too  many  such 
ministers  as  Mr.  Dolittle  are  in  the  establishment, 
who  act  and  speak  more  as  men  of  the  world,  than  a 
heathen  can  allow  to  be  consistent  with  the  Christian 
profession.  I  lament,  too,  that  such  unfit  and  unwor- 
thy men  are  not,  or  cannot  be,  turned  out  of  it.  But 
I  rejoice,  at  the  same  time,  that  there  is  in  our  day 
"  a  great  company  of  the  priests"  who  have  truly  be- 
lieved, who  are  sedulous  in  their  respective  stations, 
who  are  highly  instrumental  in  turning  many  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  whose  lives  and  conversations 
are  an  ornament  to  their  profession,  and  examples  to 
their  flocks.  Between  these  two  very  different  sorts  of 
people,  I  am  sure  you  will  think  with  me,  that  a  strong 
and  broad  line  of  distinction  should,  in  every  discus- 
sion relative  to  the  duty  of  the  ftmction,  be  constantly 
and  eminently  drawn.  Justice  and  truth,  as  well  as 
the  edification  of  souls,  do  forcibly  require  it. 

The  bottom  of  the  page  reminds  me,  that  I  am 
trespassing  upon  the  indulgence  you  have  allowed  ; 
and  therefore  I  will  only  add  my  hearty  prayers  that 
the  Lord  of  life  and  glory,  in  whose  name  you  stand 
among  the  children  of  men,  may  direct  and  bless  all 
your  labours  to  the  end  for  which  you  stand  up  at 
all — the  salvation  of  souls  by  Jesus  Christ.  I  beg  to 
be  remembered  in  the  same  by  you,  and  remain, 
Rev.  and  dear  sir,  your  friend 

and  servant  in  one  common  Lord, 
Rev.  Rowland  Hill.  AMBROSE  SERLE. 

In  August,  1801,  Mr.  Ambrose  Serle  again  wrote 
to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  on  the  style  of  his  Village  Dia- 

18* 


210  LETTER  OF  MR.  AMBROSE  SERLE^ 

logues,  and  the  humorous  incidents  with  which  they 
abound. 

James  Street,  \Uh  August,  1801. 
My  DEAR  Sir, 

Your  last  favour  came  to  my  hands  in  the  north, 
as  I  was  travelUng  on  public  business. 

Though  I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the 
last  dialogues  you  mention,  I  am  persuaded  that  you 
have  no  object  in  their  publication  but  spiritual  edifi- 
cation ;  and  whether  this  object  can  be  attained  by 
lively  sallies  or  graver  attempts,  is  a  matter  which,  I 
own,  depends  so  much  upon  the  blessing  of  God,  that  1 
feel  it  to  be  a  kind  of  hazard  in  me  to  say  any  thingposi- 
tively  upon  it.  There  appears,  hovvever,a  real  distinc- 
tion between  pleasantry  and  levity,  though  this  distinc- 
tion, considering  the  different  humours,  and  conse- 
quently the  different  opinions  of  men,  cannot  easily  be 
so  marked,  so  as  to  define  always  where  one  ends  and 
the  other  begins.  Gloomy  tempers  are  prone  to  cen- 
sure (and  especially  upon  subjects  of  a  serious  and 
solemn  nature)  the  least  departure  from  which  parti- 
cularly suits  them.  People  of  more  cheerful  disposi- 
tions can  be  pleased,  nay,  I  believe,  can  be  advantaged, 
by  lively  expressions  and  representations  of  the  most 
sacred  and  important  truths.  I  remember  to  have 
heard,  that  once,  in  a  larofe  company  assembled  on 
some  particular  occasion,  two  ministers,  strangers  to 
each  other,  were  invited  to  meet ;  the  one  a  man  of 
great  wit  and  vivacity,  like  yourself ;  and  the  other  of 
a  melancholic  turn,  rendered,  perhaps,  still  more  me- 
lancholic by  repeated  trials  and  sufferings.  The  plea- 
sant man  indulged  his  vein,  and  frequently  excited  a 
degree  of  mirth  in  the  circle  about  him ;  the  other, 
surprised  at  what  appeared  to  him  a  conduct  quite  out 
of  order,  sat  in  silence,  wrapt  up  in  reserve.  Towards 
the  breaking  up  of  the  company,  the  cheerful  minister 
was  called  upon  to  be  the  voice  of  the  rest  in  prayer  to 
God,  in  which  exercise  his  soul  wa^  so  carried  out  in 


VILLAGE  DIALOGUES.  211 

sublime  communion,  and  the  most  ardent  excitations 
of  spiritual  life  and  love,  that  it  seemed  a  flame  from 
heaven,  ditfused  and  enkindled  in  the  hearts  of  all 
about  him.  When  they  arose,  the  dear  melancholic 
man  went  up  to  him,  with  tears  streaming  from  his 
eyes,  and  addressed  him  to  the  following  purpose  : — 
"  My  dear  brother,  forgive  me,  I  beseech  you.  Here 
have  I  been  for  this  whole  afternoon,  condemning  you 
as  a  person  of  a  light  and  frothy  mind,  talking  utterly 
unworthy,  not  only  of  a  Christian  minister,  but  of  a 
Christian  man ;  but  I  see  and  confess,  from  what  God 
has  done  in  you,  and  enabled  you  to  utter  in  prayer 
before  him,  and  in  the  presence  of  this  company,  that 
the  fault  is  all  my  own,  and  that  gloominess  of  mind  is 
no  necessary  part  of  true  religion,  nor  cheerfulness  of 
mind  an  enemy  to  it."  Having  said  this,  he  cordially 
embraced  his  no  less  affectionate  brother,  with  mutual 
tears  of  joy.     Excuse  this  story. 

With  my  hearty  prayers,  that  the  Lord  may  bless 
all  your  labours  for  the  edification  of  souls,  and  for 
his  own  glory  by  Christ  Jesus, 
I  remain,  dear  sir, 

Your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

AMBROSE  SERLE. 

The  Village  Dialogues  have  passed  through  thirty 
editions,  and  have  been  translated  into  some  of  the 
languages  of  the  continent.  The  rural  dialects  which 
abound  in  them,  are  those  of  the  West  of  England, 
with  which  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  most  familiar ;  and 
in  the  midst  of  matter  of  almost  every  kind,  they  cer- 
tainly contain  some  beautiful  descriptions  of  the  effect 
of  real  piety,  on  men  of  every  class,  as  well  as  scenes 
of  the  most  affecting  pathos.  He  utterly  denied,  that 
"  when  a  bad  minister  or  character  had  been  held 
forth  as  a  proper  example  for  reproof,"  it  was  intend- 
ed by  him  for  a,^^  sweeping  charge,"  without  any  discri- 
mination, and  frequently  asserted,  that  he  had  no  in- 
tention of  attacking  the  church  by  any  such  descrip- 


212  SALE  OF  CURATES. 

tions  :  on  the  contrary,  his  declared  design  was  to 
show,  in  some  of  his  characters,  the  value  and  great 
usefuhiess  of  its  devoted  and  laborious  clergy.  Howfar 
he  took  the  steps  most  likely  to  eifect  such  an  object, 
must  be  left  to  the  various  opinions  of  the  readers 
of  the  work ;  and  it  is  fairly  questionable,  whether 
some  of  the  scenes  described  in  it  may  not  have  a  ten- 
dency to  produce  an  impression  on  the  mind  very  op- 
posite to  his  real  design.  Still  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe,  that  they  have  been  instrumental  in  awak- 
ening numbers  of  careless  and  irreligious  people ; 
frequent  instances  having  occurred,  of  persons  da- 
ting their  conversion  from  the  perusal  of  this  book. 
Thus  the  undoubted  purity  of  his  object  has  been 
owned  of  God. 

It  would  not  be  right,  in  a  life  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill,  to  leave  unnoticed  some  dialogues  of  a  very 
different  description,  from  those  to  which  reference 
has  been  just  made.  Contrary  to  the  advice  of  his 
sincerest  friends,  and  to  the  urgent  entreaties  even 
of  many  dissenters,  he  persisted  in  publishing  his 
"  Sale  of  Curates."  The  consequence  was  that  anti- 
cipated by  almost  every  person  of  discretion — his 
exclusion  from  the  numerous  pulpits  of  the  establish- 
ment into  which  he  had  been  previously  admitted. 
His  popularity,  and  the  well  known  excellence  of  all 
his  purposes,  made  him  the  welcome  assistant  of  a 
great  number  of  clergy,  wherever  he  found  it  con- 
venient and  agreeable;  but  after  this  book  was  circu- 
culated,  they  considered  it  impossible  any  more  to 
invite  his  services  ;  the  more  especially,  as  in  many 
instances  it  would  have  been  in  opposition  to  the  will 
of  their  ecclesiastical  superiors.  He  certainly  re- 
gretted, at  last,  that  it  was  ever  printed,  and  said,  "  I 
wish  I  could  buy  it  up."  It  was  one  of  the  mistakes 
of  a  long  and  laborious  life,  in  which  there  was  so 
much  to  illumine  the  page  of  his  history,  that  after 
these  remarks,  which  fidelity  requires,  we  may  pass 
on  to  contemplate  his  happier  and  wise?  efforts,  for 


WARNING  TO  PROFESSORS.  213 

the  spread  of  divine  truth.  The  current  of  his  ar- 
dent and  inventive  mind,  sometimes  overflowed  the 
Umits  which  reason  and  rehgion  prescribed  for  its 
course,  diffusing  itself  in  shallows,  arid  injuring  the 
very  soil  lie  had  most  assiduously  cultivated  ;  but  it 
oftener  ran  within  its  proper  bounds,  conveying  fresh- 
ness and  fertility  to  every  scene  through  which  it 
passed. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  there 
was  scarcely  an  event  of  religious  interest,  with  which 
Mr.  Hill  was  not  in  some  degree  connected.  Men 
employed  in  disseminating  the  truth  over  the  con- 
tinent of  Europe,  and  missionaries  in  various  parts 
of  the  world,  seemed  to  delight  in  reporting  to  him 
the  tidings  of  their  success,  or  in  opening  to  his  sym- 
pathising breast,  all  their  cares,  dangers,  and  suffer- 
ings. He  thought  consistency  at  home  the  great 
secret  of  usefulness  abroad ;  and  with  a  view  to  the 
correction  of  worldly  conformity,  in  many  who  pro- 
fessed the  name  of  Christ  in  our  own  land,  he  pub- 
lished his  "  Warning  to  Professors."  Allusion  to  it 
has  been  made  before  in  these  pages  ;  but  it  is  men- 
tioned to  introduce  some  admirable  remarks  of  Mr. 
Serle,  who  says,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  ■'  I 
have  read  over  the  'Warning:'  with  much  delight. 
It  is  a  publication  that  has  long  been  wanted  among 
us  ;  and  there  is  a  life,  and  spirit,  as  well  as  a  seri- 
ousness, in  the  composition,  which,  in  the  Lord's 
hand,  cannot  fail,  I  think,  of  making  deep  impres- 
sion. I  have  been  praying  over  it,  that  the  Divine 
Spirit  may  accompany  this  most  necessary  tract 
with  his  efficacious  blessing,  and  that  thousands 
now  living,  and  tens  of  thousands  yet  unborn,  may 
receive  counsel,  edification,  and  full  correction  res- 
pecting those  worldly  conformities,  and  carnal  (I 
might  say  devilish)  snares,  which  in  all  ages  are,  and 
have  been,  laid  for  the  entanglement  of  professors. 
Every  true  believer  will  rejoice  in  your  work.  The 
opinion  of  nominal  christians,  however  specious  and 


214  SURRY  CHAPEL  COMMUNICANTS. 

sensible  they  may  appear  in  eyes  like  their  own,  is 
not  worth  a  moment's  attention.  The  Lord  make 
us  good  non-conformists  to  the  world,  and  then  the 
world  may  deride  us  as  they  please.  A  little  of  their 
slander  and  opposition  will  cause  professors  to  mind, 
as  well  as  to  mend  their  ways ;  for  while  the  men  of 
the  earth  are  watching  over  their  conduct,  they  will 
be  more  zealously  induced  to  look  up  for  wisdom  and 
strength  from  above,  that  their  feet  may  be  kept  from 
falling,  and  that  they  may  glorify  the  Lord  more  and 
more  in  their  lives  and  conversations.  Once  more 
accept  my  thanks  for  this  most  seasonable  and  power- 
ful publication." 

Mr.  Hill  was  very  vigilant  over  the  consistency  of 
the  members  of  his  own  chapel.  "  The  city  of  Lon- 
don," he  says,  in  his  "  Warning,"  "  may  be  compared 
to  a  great  wilderness  ;  we  seldom  know  how  our  next 
neighbour  lives.  I  have  therefore  found  great  utility 
in  announcing,  on  three  different  occasions,  before  all 
the  communicants,  the  names  and  the  abode  of  those 
who  wish  more  statedly  to  join  the  communion. 
They  are  next  regularly  registered,  that  we  may  call 
for  them  whenever  necessity  requires  :  after  this  they 
receive  such  frequent  charges,  as  that  they  know  all 
conformity  to  the  world  is  totally  prohibited  among 
lis.  By  this  plan,  considering  the  very  imperfect 
state  of  things,  though  we  do  not  suppose  that  all  is 
gold  that  glitters,  yet,  comparatively  spealdng,  the 
disgraceful  characters  have  been  but  few.  Thus 
things  have,  with  a  little  attention,  been  most  com- 
fortably managed,  while  the  most  pleasant  peace  and 
harmony  universally  prevails."  Indeed  the  com- 
municants at  Surry  chapel,  thus  carefully  watched 
over,  have  ever  been  remarkable  for  a  conduct  of 
admirable  purity,  happily  untainted  by  the  ascetic  or 
morose. 

This  era  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  life  was  marked 
by  the  ever  memorable  event  of  the  formation  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  an  institution  which 


BIBLE  SOCIETY.  215 

he  cherished  m  its  rise,  and  whose  principles  he  de- 
-fended  in  all  the  trying  scenes  through  which  it  has 
passed.  The  first  members  of  it  were  amongst  his 
most  esteemed  friends,  and  its  president,  Lord  Teign- 
mouth,  was  connected  by  marriage  with  the  Hill  fa- 
mily. It  was  at  the  suggestion  of  the  bishop  of  Lon- 
don, that  Lord  Tei2:nmouth  was  proposed  in  the  com- 
mittee, by  Mr.  Owen,  as  president  of  the  Bible  Society, 
and  the  proposition  was  instantly  seconded  by  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill,  who  had  the  happiness  of  being  thus 
instrumental  in  placing,  at  the  head  of  that  truly  ad- 
mirable body,  one  of  the  most  judicious  and  excellent 
noblemen  that  could  have  been  selected  for  such  an 
important  office.  Never  was  any  man  more  entirely 
given  up  to  the  cause  of  truth  than  Mr.  Hill,  and  all 
the  energies  of  his  mind,  and  the  powers  of  his  body, 
were  voluntarily  offered  to  the  Lord  as  his  reasonable 
and  willing  service.  As  each  successive  formation  of 
auxiliary  associations  gave  additional  strength  to  the 
Bible  Society,  he  seemed  filled  with  a  glow  of  interest 
and  delight.  When  the  news  first  arrived  of  the 
meeting  at  Cambridge,  he  was  just  about  to  sit  down 
to  dinner,  which  he  finished  with  the  utmost  haste, 
and  would  scarcely  wait  the  removal  of  the  cloth, 
before  he  said  to  the  author  of  these  memoirs,  then  a 
boy  spendinsf  the  holydays  at  his  house, — "  now  read 
me  every  word  of  these  speeches."  His  ecstacy  was  so 
great,  that  expressions  of  the  most  pure  delight  burst 
every  moment  from  his  lips.  "  O  what  a  change 
since  I  was  at  the  University — the  Lord  be  praised, 
the  Lord  be  praised."  To  the  immortal  honour  of 
Trinity  College,  the  master  and  seniors  of  that  learned 
body  presented  a  donation  of  fifty  guineas  to  the 
Bible  Society,  on  the  day  of  the  Nation's  Jubilee,  a 
proper  homage  to  that  blessed  book  which  must  be 
our  ladder  to  true  learning,  even  unto  gray  hairs, 
and  the  mystery  of  whose  truths,  both  literate  and 
illiterate,  we  can  only  know  by  the  teaching  of  the 
Holy  Ghost. 


216  CONVERTED  FARMERS, 

Oji  the  discovery  of  vaccination  by  Dr.  Jenner, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  eagerly  embraced  this  new  means 
of  conferring  a  benetit  on  his  fellow  creatures.  '•  This," 
he  said,  "is  the  very  thing  for  me;"  and  wherever 
he  went  to  preach,  he  announced  after  his  sermon 
"  I  am  ready  to  vaccinate  to-morrow  morning,  as 
many  children  as  you  choose,  and  if  you  wish 
them  to  escape  that  horrid  disease,  the  small-pox, 
you  will  bring  them."  Once  a  week  he  innoculated 
the  childi-en  who  were  brought  to  him  from  Wotton 
and  the  neighbourhood  ;  and  it  is  well  known,  that 
one  of  the  most  effective  vaccine  boards  in  London 
was  established,  and  still  continues  in  operation  at 
Surry  chapel. 

When  vaccinating  children,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
seemed  quite  in  his  element,  talking  kindly  to  the 
parents,  and  coaxing  the  little  frightened  creatures  in 
the  most  good  natured  manner.  In  a  few  years,  the 
numbers  innoculated  by  him  amounted  to  more  than 
ten  thousand,  and  in  most  of  the  cases  he  was  parti- 
cularly successful.  Dr.  Jenner  was  a  person  of  very 
animated  conversation,  with  a  remarkably  kind  dis- 
position ;  and  although  he  did  not  fully  participate  in 
Mr.  Hill's  religious  views  and  feelings,  he  had  the 
highest  veneration  for  his  character,  and  was  a  fre- 
quent attendant  on  his  ministry  at  Cheltenham.  Dr. 
Jenner  seemed  at  times  forcibly  struck  with  the  deep 
tone  of  his  friend's  piety  and  glowing  anticipations  of 
happiness,  in  a  spiritual  state  of  being.  Mr.  Hill  once 
introduced  him  to  a  nobleman  in  these  terms :  "allow 
me  to  present  to  your  lordship  my  friend  Dr.  Jen- 
ner, who  has  been  the  means  of  saving  more  lives 
than  any  other  man."  Dr.  Jenner  bowed,  and  said 
with  great  earnestness,  "Ah!  would  I,  like  you,  could 
say  souls.^^ 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  in  middle  age, 
was  made  very  useful  to  some  of  the  Gloucestershire 
farmers,  amongst  whom  pleasing  instances  of  conver- 
sion, and  a  total  change  of  habits  and  manners,  took 


CONVERTED  FARMERS.  217 

place.     These  persons  were  remarkable  examples  of 
the  power  of  religion,   on  previously  ill-cultivated 
minds.     The  frost  of  selfishness,  by  which  all  the 
softer  faculties  of  their  souls  had  formerly  been  con- 
gealed, dissolved  under  the  melting  influences  of  the 
love  of  God,  and  the  simple  graces  of  true  piety  flow- 
ed forth  in  streams  of  active  benevolence.     Such  is 
the  character  of  Farmer  Littleworth  in  the  Village 
Dialogues,  which  was  drawn  from  what  the  author 
himself  had  witnessed  in  his  own  flock.  One  individual 
in  particular,  presented  as  striking  an  instance  of  the 
efficacy  of  religion,  as  can  be  conceived.     He  was  in 
his  youth,  an  attendant  upon  every  scene  of  rural  dis- 
sipation within  his  reach  ;  a  fighter,  a  horse  racer, 
a  midnight  rioter  in  fairs  and  revels.     Grace  changed 
his  heart  and  his  life,  so  that  he  became  a  true  and 
zealous  servant  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  peaceful, 
diligent,  industrious,  generous.      He  frequently  de- 
scribed the  happiness  he  enjoyed  in  the  service  of 
God,  contrasting  it  with  his  stings  of  conscience  when 
he  lived  in  sin.    "When  I  used  to  go,"  he  said,  '-to  all 
kind  of  fairs,  and  revels,  and  horse  races,  I  was  never 
happy.     As  I  was  coming  home  through  the  woods 
at  night,  the  rustling  of  a  leaf  would  frighten  me  ; 
terrified  by  I  know  not  what,  fleeing  when  no  man 
pursued,  I  galloped  home  as  fast  as  my  horse  could 
carry  me.     Now,  if  I  go  to  visit  a  poor  dying  man,  or 
if  I  have  been  enjoying  the  word  of  life,  I  come  home 
in  a  calm  and  peaceful  frame  of  mind.     I  find  that 
the  Lord  is  present  with  me  ;  and  as  /  walk  my  horse 
gently  along,  I  look  up  and  see  the  bright  stars  above 
my  head,  and  enjoy  the  assurance  that  the  God  who 
made  them  all,  is  mine  in  Christ.  O  what  a  mercy  ! — 
the  loneliness  of  the  wood,  the  rustling  of  the  leaves, 
the  stillness  of  night,  no  longer  alarm  me— I  am,  I 
trust,  reconciled  to  my  God,  and  at  peace  with  him 
and  my  own  conscience,  through  the  death  of  his  Son. 
He  that  fills  the  heavens  with  his  glory,  and  the  earth 
with  his  mercies,  condescends  to  dwell  in,  and  to 
19 


218  DEATH  OF  SIR  RICHARD  HILL. 

comfort  my  poor  sinful  heart."  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
had  a  great  regard  for  this  excellent  man.  He  had 
naturally  a  fervent  spirit ;  and  sometimes  as  he  looked 
at  his  venerable  minister,  a  tear  stole  do^vn  his  cheek, 
when  he  remembered  that  he  was  the  first  messenger 
of  comfort  to  his  soul.  This  pious  farmer  knew  the 
state  of  mind,  and  inquired  into  the  temporal  wants 
of  every  poor  man  in  his  employ :  and  it  may  be 
truly  said,  the  Lord  was  with  him  in  his  business,  for 
it  always  seemed  to  prosper. 

On  November  28th,  1808,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  lost 
his  affectionate  brother  Sir  Richard  Hill,  who  was 
succeeded  in  his  title  and  estates  by  his  brother  Mr. 
John  Hill,  the  father  of  Lord  Hill,  and  the  other  brave 
soldiers  before-mentioned.  A  handsome  addition  to 
the  income  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  Avas  left  him  by  his 
deceased  brother,  and  he  immediately  increased  his 
charities  in  proportion  to  his  augmented  means.  He 
was  perpetually  endeavouring  to  extend  the  limits  of 
his  usefulness,  and  beo;an  to  turn  his  thouohts  towards 
the  introduction  of  the  gospel  into  Cheltenham,  then 
rapidly  rising  to  its  present  high  estimation,  as  a 
place  of  fashionable  resort.  Cheltenham  was  some 
years  ago  little  more  than  a  village,  till  the  discovery 
of  its  mineral  waters  attracted  many  persons  from  a 
distance.  The  parish  church  being  totally  unequal 
to  their  accommodation,  Mr.  Hill,  in  conjunction  with 
some  good  men  in  the  neighbourhood,  conceived  the 
plan  of  erecting  a  chapel  there,  to  which  it  was  hoped 
the  visiters  would  be  attracted.  Had  there  then  ex- 
isted the  present  ample  and  excellent  provision  for 
the  spiritual  wants  of  its  inhabitants  and  others,  he 
would  not  have  interfered ;  and  no  person  rejoiced 
more  sincerely  than  Mr.  Hill,  in  his  old  age,  at  the 
zeal  of  the  clergy  who  presided  over  the  large  con- 
gregations in  that  place.  By  his  influence,  subscrip- 
tions were  soon  raised,  to  erect  a  handsome  and 
commodious  place  of  worship,  in  which  he  was  zeal- 
ously assisted  by  a  gentleman  residing  in  the  towTi. 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  S  AMUSEMENTS.  219 

Another  of  his  coadjutors  in  this  work  was  his  friend 
O.  P.  Wathen,  Esq.  of  Woodchester,  near  Stroud,  to 
whom  he  thus  mentioned  his  intention.  "  I  suppose 
you  have  heard  of  our  desi2:n  to  build  a  large  chapel 
at  Cheltenham,  upon  the  plan  of  ours  at  Surry  cha- 
pel ;  the  church  service  to  be  adopted,  and  the  pulpit 
open  to  evangelical  ministers  of  all  denominations. 
This  event  will  probably  call  me  more  frequently 
to  visit  your  part  of  the  country."  The  first  stone 
was  laid  in  the  year  1808,  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  who 
preached  on  the  occasion  to  a  large  assembly,  and  in 
the  autumn  of  1809  it  was  completed,  and  opened 
for  divine  service.  Whenever  Mr.  Hill  visited  Chel- 
tenham, the  building  was  crowded  to  excess,  and  he 
continued  to  preach  in  it  occasionally,  to  vast  con- 
gregations, and  with  great  popularity,  till  within  a 
year  of  his  death.  From  this  pulpit  he  preached  some 
of  his  finest  sermons ;  and  his  dignified  appearance, 
energy  of  manner,  and  widely  extended  fame,  attracted 
persons  of  every  rank,  not  a  few  of  whom  greatly 
profited  by  the  truths  they  heard. 

In  the  midst  of  all  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  numerous 
engagements,  it  was  delightful  to  watch  his  innocent 
relaxations.  His  garden  was  to  him  a  source  of  per- 
petual enjoyment,  and  he  prided  himself  on  his  suc- 
cessful cultivation  of  flowers.  On  arriving  from  a 
long  and  fatiguing  journey,  he  seldom  went  into  the 
house  till  the  borders  were  examined,  and  notice 
taken  of  the  progress  of  the  plants  in  his  absence. 
The  strawberries,  melons,  and  fruit  trees,  were  brought 
to  great  perfection  under  his  own  special  superin- 
tendence. Three  or  four  times,  in  a  warm  summer's 
morning,  he  would  quit  his  study  to  gather  rose 
leaves  for  a  pot-pourri,  a  supply  of  which,  prepared 
by  his  own  hands,  he  was  very  proud  of  offering  to 
his  visiters.  After  dinner,  while  some  person  read 
aloud,  he  was  busily  occupied  in  making  nets  for  his 
fruit  trees  or  fish  ponds  ;  and  if  he  took  a  walk  in  the 
evening,  it  must  be  with  an  odometer  to  measure  the 


220  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  S  AMUSEMENTS. 

distance  from  the  house  at  Wotton,  to  some  place  in 
the  vicinity.  He  also  had  his  pets  of  the  animal 
creation,  and  often  exhibited  the  tricks  which  he  had 
taught  them,  with  a  humour  belonging  to  himself 
alone.  Still  in  the  midst  of  all  his  amusements,  reli- 
gion appeared  admirably  predominant,  visibly  quali- 
fying his  every  pursuit,  and  gently  restraining  the 
redundances  of  one  of  the  most  active  and  original 
dispositions  ever  unplanted  in  man. 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  MR.  niLL»  221 


CHAPTER  X. 

MY  OWN  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

I  HAVE  hitherto  given  such  a  history  of  the  life  of 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  as  I  could  collect  from  my  re- 
membrance of  what  he  has  told  me  himself  of  his 
extraordinary  career,  and  from  the  interesting  docu- 
ments which  he  bequeathed  to  me.  As  I  have  never 
passed  a  year  without  spending  some  portion  of  it 
with  him,  I  think  I  shall  be  enabled  to  convey  to 
those  interested  in  his  memoirs,  a  more  complete  view 
of  his  unique  character,  by  bringing  before  them  in 
the  first  person,  my  Tecollections  of  his  public  en- 
gagements, and  the  pleasing  developement  of  his 
amiable  and  cheerful  qualities,  in  the  retirement  of 
his  own  family.  Surrounded  as  he  was  by  persons 
of  every  description,  it  was  necessary  that  he  should 
be  somewhat  reserved,  except  to  a  few  individuals 
who  possessed  his  confidence.  Numbers  fancied 
they  knew  him  well,  because  he  was  courteous, 
polite,  and  cheerful,  in  the  presence  of  every  person 
of  whom  he  entertained  a  good  opinion  ;  but  though 
the  readiness  of  his  wit  and  humour  caused  him 
to  converse  in  an  apparently  unrestrained  man- 
ner with  many,  very  few  were  acquainted  with 
the  movements  of  his  mind,  or  the  events  of  his 
early  days.  Some  presumed  upon  his  kindness  ;  but 
he  bore  their  forwardness  with  patience,  for  the  sake 
of  doing  good,  and  because  he  believed  it  arose  from 
ignorance.  If  once  his  suspicions  were  awakened 
and  confirmed,  those  he  had  detected  in  doing  wrong, 
seldom  sought  a  second  interview  with  him.  Many 
years  ago,  an  individual  who  had  done  discredit  to  a 
19* 


222  ANECDOTE. 

profession  of  religion,  was  standing  at  his  door,  just 
as  he  was  going  out,  and  greeted  him  with  "  How  do 
you  do,  Mr.  Hill,  I  am  delighted  to  see  you  once 
more."  He  made  no  answer ;  but  with  an  air  of 
perfect  amazement,  exclaimed,  "What!  arn't  you 
hanged  yet  ?"  and  returned  to  the  house  till  the  as- 
tonished visiter  departed.  He  was  so  well  known  by 
name,  to  every  description  of  person,  that  applications 
of  all  kinds  were  made  to  him ;  and  I  have  witnessed 
some  such  scenes  at  Surry  chapel  house,  as  I  think 
were  never  to  be  met  with  in  any  other  place.  I  well 
remember  one  morning  the  footman  ushered  in  a 
most  romantic  looking  lady.  She  advanced  with  mea- 
sured steps,  and  with  an  air  that  caused  Mr.  Hill  to 
retreat  towards  the  fire-place.     She  began, 

"  Divine  shepherd" — 

"  'Pon  my  word,  ma'am !" 

"  I  hear  you  have  great  influence  with  the  royal 
family." 

"Well,  ma'am,  and  did  you  hear  any  thing  else?" 

"  Now  seriously,  sir — my  son  has  the  most  wonder- 
ful poetic  powers.  Sir,  his  poetry  is  of  a  sublime 
order^noble,  original,  fine" — 

"  Well,  I  wonder  what  will  come  next,"  muttered 
Mr.  Hill,  in  a  low  tone. 

"Yes,  sir,  pardon  the  liberU^,  and  therefore  I  called 
to  ask  you  to  get  him  made  Poet  Laureate^ 

"  Ma'am,  you  might  as  well  ask  me  to  get  him 
made  archbishop  of  Canterbury !" 

The  mother  of  the  poetic  genius  withdrew,  looking 
highly  indignant  at  the  fit  of  laughter  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  suppress. 

At  times  the  knocker  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  door 
had  literally  no  rest  from  morning  till  night ;  and 
nothing  could  exceed  the  good  humour  with  which  he 
submitted  to  every  species  of  interruption.  Foreign- 
ers, all  sorts  of  mendicants,  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try— in  short,  almost  every  person  who  called,  found 
him  ready  to  listen  to  their  cases.     These  were 


ANECDOTE.  223 

sometimes,  like  that  wiiich  has  been  just  described, 
not  a  httlc  singular.  One  evenins:  after  dinner,  his 
servant  said,  "Sir,  a  foreign  gentleman  wishes  to 
speak  to  you."  "Well,  show  him  in,"  said  Mr.  Hill, 
and  there  entered  a  tall  mustachoed  man,  who  ad- 
dressed him  with, 

"  Meester  Hill,  I  have  heard  you  are  a  wonderflil 
great,  goot  man — can  do  any  ting." 

"Mercy  on  us  !  then  I  must  ibe  a  wonderful  man 
indeed." 

"  Yesj  sare,  so  you  are  a  very  wonderful  man  ;  so 
I  call  to  ask  you  to  makeTny  ambassador  do  his  duty 
by  me." 

"  Sir,  I  can  assure  you  I  have  not  the  honour  of 
knowing  him." 

"  Oh,  sare,  but  he  regard  a  letter  from  you." 

"  Sir,  I  can  have  no  possible  influence  with  him, 
and  cannot  take  the  liberty  of  writing  to  him,  on  a 
subject  about  which  I  know  nothing." 

"  But  sare,  I  will  tell  you" — 

Finding  his  applicant  inclined  to  be  pertinacious, 
he  concluded  the  business  by  saying — 

"Well,  sir,  you  may  give  my  compliments  to  the 
ambassador,  and  say,  that  /  advise  hiin  to  do  his 
duty ;  and  that  will  do  as  well  as  writing." 

"Very  o-oot,  sare — goot  day." 

The  unreasonable  requests  to  which  Mr.  Hill  was 
continually  subject  are  almost  incredible;  and  the 
patience  with  which  he  bore  them  all,  was  truly  sur- 
prising. Numerous  stories  of  his  sayings  on  such 
occasions,  have  been  widely  circulated,  many  of 
which  originated  in  the  imaginations  of  the  invent- 
ors. I  do  not  recollect  a  single  instance  of  his  losing 
his  temper,  when  annoyed  in  this  manner ;  nor  do  I 
ever  remember  him  to  have  given  way  to  uncontrol- 
led irritability,  under  the  most  trying  excitement. 
In  this  respect  he  was,  in  the  retirement  of  his  fami- 
ly, a  happy  example  of  the  precepts  he  so  forcibly 
inculcated  in  his  public  ministrations. 


224  AN  ELECTION. 

In  the  Avinter  of  1810-11  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  took  a 
very  active  part  in  a  contested  election,  and  engap;ed 
in  the  canvass,  with  all  the  energy  of  his  persevering 
character.  He  never  more  fully  experienced  the 
etfects  of  his  unbounded  popularity,  than  on  this  oc- 
casion. Wherever  he  appeared,  he  was  p-reeted  with 
enthusiasm,  and  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  pre- 
venting the  populace  from  taking  the  horses  out  of 
his  carriage,  and  drawing  him  themselves.  This 
was  the  only  time  in  my  remembrance,  that  he  was 
occupied  in  an  active  political  canvass,  for  which  he 
considered  there  were  good  reasons :  he  ever  after- 
wards declined  to  interfere.  As  was  to  be  expected, 
this  deviation  from  his  usual  course  was  the  cause 
of  many  remarks,  which  he  generally  suifered  to  pass 
unnoticed ;  but  on  one  of  the  days  of  the  poll,  he 
happened  to  be  seated  at  table  with  a  young  man, 
who  observed,  in  rather  a  sarcastic  tone,  "  really  the 
Methodists  make  excellent  canvassers." — 

Mr.  Hill,  roused  in  an  instant,  said,  "  I  consider 
myself  singularly  fortunate  in  having  met  you  to-day, 
as  I  shall  now  obtain  a  correct  definition  of  a  term  I 
never  knew  the  real  meaning  of  Pray  allow  me  to 
ask  you  to  tell  me  what  a  Methodist  is." 

"indeed,  Mr.  Hill,  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  did  not 
remember  you  were  present,  when  I  made  use  of  the 
word." 

'■  I  cannot  say  that  your  apology  at  all  lessens  my 
right  to  ask  the  question,  as  you  have  now  made  the 
expression  personal  to  myself" 

"  O  no,  no,  no,  indeed." 

"  Well,  but  as  I  presume  a  person  of  your  educa- 
tion and  ability  is  not  accustomed  to  use  languas^e 
you  do  not  know  the  meaning  of,  I  still  for  the  sake 
of  information  beg  leave  to  press  my  question." 

"Why  in  truth  I — I — I — cannot  exactly  say." 

"  Then  allow  me,  as  an  old  man,  to  give  a  little 
wholesome  advice  to  you,  as  a  young  one — never 
again,  particularly  in  a  large  company,  make  use  of 


CHELTENHAM.  225 

words,  the  siafiiification  of  which  you  do  not  under- 
stand, and  cannot  explain." 

I  heard  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  give  an  account  of  this 
conversation,  when  he  added — "we  met  the  next  day 
for  all  this,  and  were  as  good  friends  as  ever  :  I  only 
gave  him  a  little  proper  counsel."  Mr.  Hill  certainly 
felt  the  young  man's  observation  very  acutely,  and  his 
resolution  never  to  come  forward  again  in  a  similar 
way,  is  a  proof  that  he  thought  it  unadvisable  for  a 
minister  to  be  carried  out  of  the  path  of  higher  and 
spiritual  pursuits,  by  the  force  of  any  temporal  excite- 
ment. The  messensrer  of  the  gospel  becomes  the 
truest  patriot,  when  he  is  most  diligently  employed 
in  winning  his  fellow  countrymen  to  the  religion  of 
Christ  Jesus,  whose  precepts,  obeyed  from  the  heart, 
are  the  firmest  pillars  of  the  social  system,  and  the 
surest  antidote  to  anarchy  or  misrule. 

In  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1811,  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill's  thoughts  were  much  occupied  by  an  attempt  to 
rate  his  chapel  in  Blackfriars'  road,  which  I  shall  no- 
tice hereafter,  and  by  the  affairs  of  his  cause  at  Chel- 
tenham. In  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  G.  Clayton,  he  speaks 
thus  of  the  work  that  was  going  on  in  the  latter  place. 
*'  You  will  be  happy  to  hear,  that  the  cause  at  Chel- 
tenham continues  to  prosper  exceedingly.  In  the 
morning  we  are  completely  filled  without  a  crowd :  in 
the  evening,  in  general,  we  nearly  overflow,  while 
some  are  kept  away  through  the  excessive  heat  of  the 
place.  God's  word  shall  not  return  to  him  void,  and  I 
am  persuaded  much  good  is  to  be  done,  where  preju- 
dice is  removed,  and  a  serious  attention  is  given  to  the 
word  of  life."  With  regard  to  his  mode  of  managing 
the  services,  he  remarks  in  the  same  letter, — "  the  eco- 
nomy of  the  chapel  I  trust,  also,  is  well  contrived  to 
increase  unity  and  peace  throughout  the  Christian 
church  at  large.  While  the  public  are  accommodated 
with  that  mode  of  worship,  which  is  most  congenial 
with  their  educational  prejudices,  they  will  have  an 
opportunity  of  finding  that  Christian  ministers  of  va- 


226  SEVERE  ACCIDENT. 

rjous  denominations,  are  all  so  happily  united  in  all 
the  essential  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  as  gives  the  hap- 
piest evidences  of  the  unity  of  the  Christian  church, 
notwithstanding  some  little  differences,  scarcely  wor- 
tliy  to  be  thought  of,  among  those  that  are  really  one 
in  Christ." 

In  the  autunm  of  1811  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  met  with 
a  severe  accident.  He  was  riding  his  favourite  cream- 
coloured  horse  "  Bob"  through  a  steep  and  rugged 
road,  as  the  nearest  way  to  a  village  in  a  neighbouring 
valley,  where  he  was  going  to  preach.  The  animal 
stumbled  against  one  of  the  many  large  stones  scat- 
tered over  the  narrow  way,  and  fell  with  his  whole 
weight  on  Mr.  Hill.  Being  of  a  most  gentle  and  docile 
nature,  he  lay  quiet  till  his  rider  was  extricated  from 
his  perilous  situation,  when  the  latter  was  found  to  be 
much  bruised,  and  to  have  broken  two  of  his  ribs.  He 
was  confined  for  some  weeks  to  his  bed ;  but  his  cheer- 
fulness never  forsook  him,  though  before  he  arose,  a 
severe  inflammation  settled  in  his  right  eye.  Not  being 
able  to  preach,  Mr.  Hill  remained  at  Wotton  till  to- 
wards Christmas,  when  the  state  of  his  eye  became 
so  alarming,  that  he  went  to  London  to  consult  the 
celebrated  Mr.  Ware.  I  travelled  with  him  on  that 
occasion.  We  were  two  days  on  the  road:  he  was 
mostly  silent  and  dejected,  complaining  of  great  pain, 
till  I  remarked,  "there  is  Eton,  sir."  He  then  seemed 
to  forget  his  sufferings,  and  talked  to  me,  in  the  kind- 
est manner,  of  his  religious  feelings  when  ahoy  there, 
accompanied  with  beautiful  remarks  on  the  dedication 
of  our  youth  to  God,  and  the  pleasures  of  the  remem- 
brance of  having  spent  it  in  his  service.  On  arriving 
in  London,  before  we  went  to  Surry  chapel,  he  drove 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Ware,  and  received  all  the  kind- 
ness and  attention  for  which  that  eminent  oculist  was 
so  justly  esteemed.  WTien  he  reached  his  own  resi- 
dence, he  rose  into  a  frame  of  the  most  exalted  piety, 
and  walked  up  and  down  the  room,  breathing  forth 
resiofuation  to  his  chastening'  Father's  Avill,  in  all  the 


CHELTENHAM.  227 

fervoiir  of  a  sanctified  use  of  affliction.  A  minister 
present  observed,  "  1  never  saw  him  in  a  more  holy 
state  of  mind :" — in  truth  the  Lord  was  with  him  in. 
the  furnace,  and  all  that  the  fire  destroyed,  were  the 
ties  which  had  bound  hmi  too  closely  to  earth,  and 
to  himself  "God,"  said  he,  "  has  laid  me  on  one 
side,  has  incapacitated  me  for  his  work  to  humble 
me,  to  make  me  feel  that  I  am  nothincr  in  his  cause, 
and  that  I  may  more  justly  value  the  privileo^e  of  la- 
bouring- for  his  glory."  The  skill  of  Mr.  Ware  was 
at  length  made  the  means  of  restoring  him  to  his 
beloved  people.  I  shall  never  forget  his  first  return 
to  the  pulpit,  on  his  recovery,  nor  the  expression  of 
happy  welcome  which  beamed  on  the  faces  of  a  nu- 
merous and  artectionate  congi-egation. 

In  the  summer  after  his  restoration  to  his  ministe- 
rial duties,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  accompany  him  and 
Mrs.  Hill  to  Cheltenham.  When  there,  he  was  fol- 
lowed by  visiters  of  every  rank,  to  whose  accommo- 
dation in  the  chapel,  the  most  polite  attention  was 
paid  by  the  trustees.  He  much  enjoyed  the  morning 
walk  at  the  wells,  and  received  great  benefit  from 
the  waters  ;  but  the  pleasures  of  the  place  did  not 
tempt  him  to  relax  in  his  usual  routine  of  weekly 
village  preaching.  This  will  appear,  from  a  letter 
to  his  friend  Mr.  Wathen,  announcing  his  intended 
plan.  He  says,  "Mrs.  Hill  has  promised  to  go  with 
me  to  Cheltenham,  and  we  are  to  take  young  Sidney 
with  us,  to  show  him  the  place.  In  consequence 
of  this,  we, shall  travel  all  the  way  in  our  own  car- 
riage, and  shall  hope  to  be  with  you  at  your  dinner 
hour  on  Saturday,  the  4th  of  July,  which  I  suppose 
must  not  be  late,  as  we  shall  afterwards  have  to  go 
to  Cheltenham  in  the  evening.  Though  by  this  plan 
I  shall  not  need  the  offer  of  your  carriage,  yet  it 
need  not  prevent  the  kind  design  of  your  attending 
us  to  that  place.  I  should  rather  hope  it  would  for- 
ward your  intention,  as  we  shall  have  a  spare  place 
in  our  carriage,  that  you  may  travel  with  us.     You 


228  SERVICES  OP  SIR  ROWLAND  HILL. 

know  we  are  to  return,  if  lives  be  spared,  on  the 
Wednesday,  that  I  may  preach  at  Rodborough,  and 
Ebley  on  the  Thursday,  and  perhaps  at  Painswick 
on  the  Friday,  and  return  to  Chehenham  on  the  Sa- 
turday." Tliou^h  his  weak  eye  suffered  from  the 
heat  of  the  crowded  chapels,  he  would  preach ;  no 
illness  that  did  not  actually  confine  him  to  the  house, 
no  remonstrance  could  prevent  it,  and  frequently 
after  sitting  silent  and  wrapt  up  in  thought,  he  was 
heard  to  say  indistinctly  to  himself  "O  that  I  could 
do  more  for  my  God,  O  that  I  could  bring  more  souls 
to  Christ ;  Lord  help."  Every  walk  in  Ihe  grounds 
of  his  friends,  every  hill  he  climbed  to  enjoy  some 
romantic  view,  every  event  seemed  to  furnish  glean- 
ings for  his  sermons.  His  mind  turned  all  the  inci- 
dents of  life  to  the  account  of  his  work,  in  which  it 
was  evident  to  those  who  were  witnesses  of  his  zeal, 
that  no  man  ever  engaged  with  more  heartfelt  ear- 
nestness, to  bring  souls  to  a  true  concern  for  their 
eternal  salvation.  His  playful,  guileless  mind,  ran 
innocently,  and  often  sportively,  on  the  surface  of  the 
earth ;  but  far  more  frequently  did  it  soar  on  the 
wings  of  devotion,  into  regions  above  this  world,  ex- 
panding itself  in  the  praise  and  service  of  the  God 
of  heaven. 

Towards  the  year  1813,  the  conspicuous  part  which 
his  nephews  took  in  the  great  and  warlike  deeds  of 
the  peninsula,  in  addition  to  their  vast  importance, 
caused  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  feel  and  to  express  no 
ordinary  interest,  in  the  tidings  of  battles  and  victory, 
that  were  perpetually  reaching  those  who  were  at  a 
distance  from  all  the  horrors  and  massacre  of  war. 
The  exploits  and  services  of  Sir  Rowland  Hill  in 
Spain,  have  been  rewarded  by  due  fame  and  honours, 
and  his  kindness  and  attention  to  the  troops  under 
his  command,  by  which  he  obtained  the  immortal 
name  of  "  the  soldier's  friend,"  are  still  fresh  in  the 
grateful  recollections  of  many  a  brave  fellow  whom 
he  led  to  victory.     The  towai  of  Shrewsbury,  to  mark 


SIR   ROWLAND   HILL.  229 

its  sense  of  the  honour  he  had  brought  to  his  native 
county,  returned  him  to  Parhament  in  1812,  and  his 
brother,  the  late  Colonel  Hill,  represented  him  on 
that  occasion,  and  was  chaired  for  him.*  Involved  as 
he  was  in  all  the  changes  and  perils  of  an  arduous 
warfare,  and  engaged  in  harassing  responsibilities, 
Sir  Rowland  Hill  lost  no  opportunity  of  assuring  his 
uncle,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  of  his  sincere  esteem,  and 
of  communicating  to  him  from  time  to  time,  accounts 
of  the  difficulties  he  had  encountered  and  surmounted. 
Firnmess  and  kindness,  accompanied  by  the  highest 
military  talents,  were  the  qualities  which  inspired  the 
confidence,  and  ensured  tlie  affection,  of  all  connected 
with  this  gallant  officer.  Persons  coming  from  Spain 
at  this  period,  used  frequently  to  call  at  Surry  chapel 
house,  with  such  tidings  as  they  knew  would  be  inte- 
resting to  Mr.  Hill,  or  if  they  had  been  the  bearers  of 
letters  to  his  nephew,  to  express,  in  terms  of  the  warm- 
est gratitude,  their  sense  of  the  way  in  which  he  had 
received  them.  There  were  several  soldiers  under 
Sir  Rowland  Hill's  command,  who  had  been  hearers 
of  his  uncle,  who  inquired  after  their  welfare,  from 
his  nephew,  with  all  the  affectionate  anxiety  of  a  pas- 
tor for  the  members  of  his  flock.  Sir  Rowland's  an- 
swers were  given,  in  a  manner  that  clearly  explained 
the  cause  of  the  devotion  to  their  general,  which  was 
so  often  expressed  by  the  brave  men  under  his  com- 
mand. In  one  of  his  letters  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill, 
he  says,  "  I  hope  my  aunt  received  a  note  I  wrote 
some  weeks  asfo,  to  inform  her  that  the  soldier  she 
mquired  about  was  well ;"  and  I  recollect  a  poor  sol- 
dier's wife  telling  Mrs.  Hill,  "  0  ma'am,  we  all  re- 
spect Sir  Rowland  Hill  for  his  kindness  to  us."  An 
officer  from  Spain,  once  came  to  the  house  at  Surry 
chapel,  to  bring  Mr.  Hill  some  intelligence  of  his 
nephews,  who  said,  "  Sir,  your  nephew.  Sir  Rowland 
Hill's  calmness  and  self-possession  are  the  admiration 

*  The  splendid  column  erected  afterwards  to  Lord  Hill,  is 
known  to  every  traveller  on  the  great  Irish  road. 

20 


230  LORD  HILL. 

of  the  whole  army.  He  never  loses  them  for  an  in- 
stant, in  the  most  trying  situations.  I  was  near  him 
a  short  time  ago,  when  he  came  up  to  an  elevated 
spot,  to  order  a  piece  of  cannon  to  be  placed  on  it. 
He  spoke  as  coolly  as  if  he  had  been  in  a  room ;  and 
though  the  shot  flew  about  him  like  hail,  he  was  per- 
fectly imrutfled."  When  such  honouralile  mention  ol" 
his  nephew  was  made  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  con- 
versation, or  read  by  him  in  the  papers,  his  eyes  filled 
with  tears  of  pleasure,  mingled  with  the  apprehension 
that  the  next  news  might  be,  that  he  had  lost  him  in 
the  hour  of  his  military  glory.  A  kind  providence, 
however,  spared  him  this  sorrow :  the  hero  lived  to 
wear  the  laurels  he  so  bravely  won,  and  to  add,  by 
every  species  of  kindness,  to  the  comfort  of  his  vene- 
rable relation  in  his  last  days.  When  the  brilliant  illu- 
minations took  place  to  celebrate  the  victories  of  our 
arms,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  placed  a  transparency  in  the 
front  of  Surry  chapel,  which  attracted  much  attention. 
At  the  head  of  it  two  hands  held,  on  a  scroll,  the 
words — "  the  tyrant  is  fallen."  Under  this  came  a 
quotation  from  Obadiah,  iii.  4,  Tlie  pride  of  thine 
heart  hath  deceived  thee,  thou  that  dwellethin  the  clefts 
of  the  rock.,  ivhose  habitation  is  high ;  that  saith  in 
his  heart,  rvho  shall  bj^ing  me  doicn  to  the  groiind  7 
Thoiigli  thou  exalt  thyself  as  the  eagle,  and  though 
thou  set  thy  nest  among  the  stars,  thence  will  I  bring 
thee  down,  saith  the  Lord.  To  this  was  added.  Be 
wise  novj,  therefore,  O  ye  kings  :  he  i?istructed,  ye 
judges  of  the  earth :  Ps.  ii.  10.  The  subject  of  the 
painting,  was  the  sun  setting  on  the  sea,  exhibiting 
on  the  shore,  to  the  left,  a  lion  couching  at  the  foot 
of  a  fortress  near  the  trophies  of  war ;  and  to  tlie 
right,  a  lamb  lying  by  the  implements  of  agriculture, 
with  a  village  church,  and  a  cottage  before  him. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  peninsular  war,  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  his  nephew  ad- 
vanced to  the  peerage,  and  to  witness  the  honours 
with  which  he  was  welcomed,  on  his  return  to  his  na- 


PRESENTATION  OF  A  SWORD  TO  LORD  HILL.      231 

tive  country.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  took  me  with 
him  one  morning  to  Lord  Hill's  hotel  in  Hanover- 
square.  He  was  at  breakfast,  surrounded  by  his  com- 
panions in  arms,  who  seemed  much  interested  in  the 
lively  conversation  of  Mr.  Hill.  After  breakfast,  Lord 
Hill  went  with  us  to  see  a  picture  of  the  Duke  of 
Wellington,  surrounded  by  a  group  of  military  offi- 
cers, whom  he  had  commanded  in  Spain.  Before  en- 
tering the  carriage.  Lord  Hill,  struck  with  the  beauty 
of  the  horses,  stopped  to  admire  them,  which  was 
quite  to  the  humour  of  Mr.  Hill,  who  prided  himself 
not  a  little  on  their  appearance  and  docility.  It  was 
a  day  of  great  gratification  to  me  as  a  boy ;  but  no 
youth  could  have  enjoyed  it  more  than  my  aged  and 
indulgent  relative. 

In  addition  to  the  other  honours  conferred  upon 
Lord  Hill,  the  city  of  London  had  voted  him  a  sword, 
which  was  presented  to  him  on  the  same  day  a  simi- 
lar mark  of  distinction  was  given  to  Lord  Beresford. 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  invited  to  Guildhall,  and  good 
naturedly  allowed  me  to  accompany  him.  His  witty 
and  original  conversation,  attracted  those  around  him 
who  were  assembled  in  the  waiting  room ;  and  never 
did  he  manifest  a  more  redundant  flow  of  spirits.  In 
placing  the  sword  in  the  hands  of  Lord  Hill,  the 
chamberlain  alluded  to  the  fact,  that  a  Sir  Rowland 
Hill  of  his  family,  was  the  first  protestant  lord  mayor 
of  London.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  presented 
himself  at  the  door  of  the  Guildhall,  the  populace, 
who  had  been  shaking  hands  with,  and  cheering  Lord 
Hill,  cried  out,  "here  comes  the  good  old  uncle,"  and 
followed  him  by  loud  huzzas  as  he  departed.  He 
could  not  help  contrasting  these  expressions  of  re- 
spect, with  the  contempt,  obloquy,  persecution,  and 
personal  insults,  of  which  he  was  the  daily  subject  at 
the  commencement  of  his  ministry.  Once,  on  the 
terrace  at  Hawkestone,  about  this  time,  he  remarked 
to  a  lady  who  was  walking  with  him,  and  who  had 
witnessed  the  affectionate  attentions  which  were  paid 


232  ILLNESS  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

him  by  Sir  John  Hill  and  his  family — "  You  have 
seen  how  I  am  now  received  here;  bnt  in  my  youth 
I  have  often  paced  this  spot  bitterly  weeping :  while, 
by  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  yonder  house,  I  was 
considered  as  a  disgrace  to  my  family.  But,"  he  add- 
ed, the  tears  trickling-  down  his  aged  cheeks,  "  it  was 
for  the  cause  of  my  God."  The  motives  which  ever 
actuated  his  conduct,  were  a  sincere  desire  for  the 
extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  and  a  love  for 
souls;  and  the  course  he  pursued,  arose  chiefly  from 
the  advice  of  others,  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
times.  His  services,  offered  in  the  integrity  of  his 
heart,  were  accepted  ;  and  even  in  this  life,  he  receiv- 
ed the  full  accomplishment  of  the  promises  of  Christ, 
to  those  who  leave  all  to  follow  him. 

The  honours  which  had  been  won  by  the  relatives 
of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  the  high  estimation  into  which 
his  own  character  had  risen,  and  the  respect  shown 
him  by  all  ranks  of  persons,  might  have  had  the  effect 
of  endearing  him,  in  his  declining  days,  too  closely  to 
this  world,  had  it  not  pleased  God  in  his  wise  provi- 
dence to  counteract  these  dangers,  by  the  visitation  of 
his  chastising  hand  in  siclmess.  A  few  months  after 
the  excitement  caused  by  the  presence  of  the  sove- 
reigns and  others,  who  had  contributed  to  the  over- 
throw of  Napoleon,  and  the  scenes  of  gratification  in 
which,  by  his  connexion  with  some  of  the  heroes  of 
the  peninsula,  he  had  been  necessarily  involved,  Mr. 
Hill  was  attacked  by  a  severe  and  painful  disease. 
This  happened  about  the  usual  time  of  his  returning 
from  Wotton  to  London.  His  friends  became  seri- 
ously alarmed,  and  were  anxious  to  bring  him  to  town 
as  soon  as  possible,  that  he  might  have  the  benefit  of 
the  medical  skill  of  the  metropolis.  His  feelings  un- 
der sickness  are  thus  expressed  by  himself,  in  a  letter 
to  one  of  the  members  of  Surry  chapel:  "My  days, 
must  be  nearly  ended,  and  consequently  my  life  is  com- 
paratively of  little  worth.  Still  may  the  languid  efforts 
of  my  declining  days  pro  ve  not  an  u  nacceptable  offering 


ILLNESS  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  233 

before  him,  by  whose  divine  power  our  weakest  efforts 
may  be  crowned  with  the  most  abundant  success.  At 
present,  however,  I  am  obhged  to  give  way  to  disease, 
and  though  perhaps  nothing  dangerous,  yet  exceeding- 
ly painftil  and  lowering  to  the  constitution.  Yesterday 
I  suffered  severely,  and  to-day  am  very  feverish,  weak, 
and  low,  and  how  I  shall  be  able  to  accomplish  my 
journey  to  town,  as  yet  I  cannot  tell.  This,  however, 
I  shall  attempt  as  speedily  as  circumstances  will  admit." 
''In  a  few  days,"  he  proceeds,  "  it  will  be  needful  that 
I  should  write  again,  that  it  may  be  known  how  far 
I  shall  be  able  to  attend  on  the  accustomed  services 
of  the  chapel,  which,  at  present,  were  I  there,  I  should 
not  be  able  to  perform.  All  this  is  from  the  hand  of 
God.  One  at  my  time  of  life  can  have  no  reason  to 
complain,  having  been  possessed  of  so  much  health 
and  strength,  for  so  many  years.  I  have  been  fa- 
voured beyond  most ;  God  forbid  that  these  light  af- 
flictions should  excite  the  most  distant  murmuring, 
from  one  that  has  cause  for  the  most  abundant  thank- 
fulness before  God."  The  only  difficulty  with  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  in  sickness,  was  to  prevent  his  preach- 
ing; nothing  but  positive  physical  inability,  would  in- 
duce him  to  yield  to  the  orders  of  his  medical  attend- 
ants, and  the  entreaties  of  his  friends.  To  the  letter, 
from  which  the  last  quotation  is  taken,  Mrs.  Hill  add- 
ed a  postscript,  in  which  she  says,  "  The  exertion  of 
preaching  is  injurious  to  Mr.  Hill,  but  I  find  it  diffi- 
cult to  keep  him  from  it."  His  removal  to  London 
was  effected  as  soon  as  possible,  where  he  was  attended 
by  Dr.  Babington  and  Mr.  Cline,  with  such  skill  and 
kindness  that  his  complaint  began  quickly  to  give  way. 
Dr.  Babington  called  so  often,  and  was  so  attentive, 
that  he  expressed  to  him  his  fears,  lest  such  frequent 
visits  should  interfere  with  his  own  interests.  Dr. 
Babington  replied,  "  Mr.  Hill,  I  shall  be  happy  indeed 
to  be  made  in  any  way  the  instrument  of  your  reco- 
very, for  I  shall  not  only  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  in  the  enjovment  of  health,  but  shall  have  con- 
20* 


234  LETTER  TO  MR.  WATHEN. 

ferred  a  benefit  upon  numbers,  to  whom  your  ministry- 
is  made  useful."  By  the  blessing  of  God  on  tlie  ad- 
vice of  this  eminent  physician,  and  the  skill  of  the 
well  known  surgeon  who  was  called  to  his  aid,  he  was 
restored  to  many  years  of  labour  and  usefulness. 

During  his  illness,  those  who  knew  the  restlessness 
of  his  temperament  and  impatience  of  confinement  to 
the  house,  were  surprised  at  seeing  how  he  bore  it. 
I  remember  the  first  evening  on  which  he  felt  deci- 
dedly better.  He  was  lying  on  a  sofa  in  his  drawing 
room,  and  We  were  just  going  down  stairs,  having 
taken  leave  of  him,  when  he  said — "  Stop,  I  will  have 
the  servants  up  here,  ring  the  bell."  When  they 
came  in,  he  said — "  We  will  go  to  prayer,"  and,  re- 
maining on  the  sofa,  he  breathed  forth  a  short  prayer, 
full  of  expressions  of  gratitude  to  God,  and  earnest 
dedication  of  returning  strength  to  his  glory.  An  an- 
swer to  the  affectionate  inquiries  of  his  friend,  Mr. 
W^athen,  will  prove  the  truly  Christian  state  of  mind 
in  which  he  welcomed  returning  health. 

December  5fh,  1814. 

My  VERY  DEAR  KIND  FRIEND, 

You  will  be  more  assuredly  convinced  that  I  am 
better,  if  I  answer  the  letter  you  have  so  kindly  written 
to  my  wife. 

Yes,  the  Lord  in  infinite  wisdom  and  goodness  has 
chastened  and  afflicted  me,  but  has  not  given  me  over 
to  death.  Only  on  this  day  se'nnight  I  was  in  such  a 
state,  that  if  the  Lord  had  not  put  a  speedy  termina- 
tion to  my  disease,  it  must  have  speedily  terminated 
my  life ;  but,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  some  of  the 
best  medical  help  that  London  affords,  I  am  still  pre- 
served, and  O  that  it  may  be  for  his  future  glory, 
as  far  as  he  condescends  to  engage  me  as  an  instru- 
ment in  his  hands,  for  the  future  good  of  his  church 
and  people !  Having  already  terminated  the  seventieth 
year  of  my  life,  it  becomes  me  to  look  upon  my  pre- 
sent recovery  as  a  short  respite,  rather  than  a  long  re- 


LETTER  TO  MR,  WATHEN.  235 

pricve.  Still  the  I,ord  may  design  that  we  should  do 
something  for  him,  and  more  than  we  may  expect, 
even  in  the  latter  stages  of  our  lives,  and  we  shall  not 
wish  to  die,  if  still  we  have  any  thing  to  do  for  him  in 
this  lower  world  of  wo. 

You  say  nothing  about  Mrs.  Wathen's  health.  We 
would,  therefore,  conclude  she  is  better.  What  a 
mercy  it  is  to  enjoy  health,  if  we  are  but  enabled  to 
enjoy  it  to  the  glory  of  God. 

You  kindly  ask  what  you  can  do  for  me.  I  an- 
swer, pray  for  me,  that  my  sickness  may  be  sanctified. 
This  blessing  I  have  had  from  thousands.  I  am  asto- 
nished tbat  such  an  unworthy  creature,  should  have 
been  so  laid  upon  the  hearts  of  so  many  of  the  people 
of  God. 

I  still  continue  convalescent,  and  am  gaining 
strength,  and  really  long,  in  my  fee])le  way,  again  to 
be  set  at  work. 

Your  ever  most  affectionate 

and  obliged  friend,  &.c. 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

O.  P.  Wathen,  Esq. 

No  one  was  more  anxious  for  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
recovery,  and  to  show  him  every  attention,  than 
his  friend,  Mr.  Wathen.  As  soon,  too,  as  his  appe- 
tite returned,  he  sent  him  venison,  woodcocks,  and 
sucli  other  delicacies  as  he  knew  would  be  acceptable, 
for  which  he  received  the  following  letter  of  thanks : — 

London,  December  16th,  1814. 
My  very  dear  Sir, 

You  very  frequent  and  kind  inquiries  after  my 
health,  are  most  affectionately  acknowledged  by  us 
both.  Through  the  mercy  of  God,  since  my  last  at- 
tack, which  is  now  near  three  weeks  ago,  1  have  felt 
no  returns  of  disease,  and  my  strength  is  considera- 
bly recruited.     O  that,  through  the  sparing  and  re- 


236  LETTER  TO  MR.  WATHEN. 

Storing  mercies  of  our  God,  we  may  be  dedicated  to 
live  more  abundantly  to  his  glory  !  We  are  thankful 
for  the  good  news  you  send  us  respecting  the  health 
of  Mrs.  Wathen.  We  are  never  so  thankful  for  health 
as  when  we  have  been  deprived  of  it.  We  are  told, 
that  chastisement  is  sent  for  out  jnofit,  and  for  this 
purpose,  "  that  we  may  be  made  partakers  of  his  holi- 
ness." The  greatest  blessing  that  God  can  confer, 
is  his  OAvn  divine  image  on  the  heart.  This  is  hea- 
ven within  us,  and  what  would  heaven  be  without 
his  image  when  there  ! 

A  thousand  thanks  for  your  kind  prog.  In  a  few 
days  we  shall  partake  of  our  venison  feast,  and  shall 
remember  with  gratitude  the  affectionate  hand  that 
sent  it.  The  woodcocks  were  devoured  to-day  ;  they 
were  both  very  good.  Neither  Moorfields,  Snows- 
fields,  Lincoln's-inn-fields,  Leicester-fields,  Saint 
George's-fields,  Saint  Giles-in-the-fields,  nor  any 
other  fields  about  London,  could  have  produced  us 
such  a  treat. 

My  kind  love  to  Mr. .     I  Imow  his  services  will 

be  acceptable  at  Wotton,  and  I  hope  Mr. 's  will 

prove  the  same  at  Rodborough.  Remember  us  to  all 
your  family,  and  believe  me, 

Yours  most  affectionately. 

R.  HILL. 
O.  P.  Wathen,  Esq. 

I  recollect  going  with  Mr.  Hill  the  first  time  he 
walked  out  after  he  regained  his  strength.  With 
much  persuasion  he  put  on  his  great  coat.  In  the 
streets  he  received  innumerable  congratulations  from 
persons  he  met ;  from  tradesmen,  who  ran  out  of  their 
shops,  and  from  the  inmates  of  every  house  he  called 
at.  The  day  was  fine  for  the  season.  When  he 
returned,  his  man  inquired — "  Sir,  where  is  youi 
great  coat  ?" — "  That's  more  than  I  can  tell  you,"  he 
replied  laughing,  "  but  I'll  tell  you  where  I  have  been, 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  WALKS.  237 

and  you  must  go  a  hunting  after  it  by  and  by."  The 
ludicrous  occurrences  which  resuUed  from  his  for- 
getfuhiess  of  such  matters,  often  afforded  us  consider- 
able merriment,  in  wliich  no  one  partook  more  hear- 
tily than  himself  If  he  had  not  been  accompanied 
by  a  careful  servant,  parts  of  his  dress  would  have 
been  frequently  separated  in  his  journeys,  by  very 
wide  intervals.  If  ever  any  man  had  attained  to  the 
digito  monstrarier  it  was  Mr.  Rowland  Hill.  Wher- 
ever he  walked  in  London,  persons  were  whispering, 
"  There's  Rowland  Hill,"  and  when,  as  was  his  cus- 
tom, he  stood  to  look  at  the  prints  in  the  shop  win- 
dows, he  attracted  great  attention.  Of  this,  however, 
he  never  could  be  persuaded,  and  was  just  as  much 
at  ease  in  the  crowded  streets,  as  in  his  own  grounds 
at  Wotton.  If  a  companion  said  to  him — "  You  had 
better  come  on,  sir,  there  are  so  many  people  staring 
at  you,"  he  would  say — "O  no, there's  nobody  thinks  it 
worth  while  to  look  at  me,  I  am  sure."  This  was 
not  affectation  ;  he  ever  truly  esteemed  others  better 
than  himself,  in  the  spirit  of  genuine  humility. 

Daring  the  visit  of  the  sovereigns  to  this  country, 
a  pious  general,  in  the  staff  of  the  Emperor  Alexan- 
der, was  a  constant  attendant  at  Surry  chapel.  From 
him  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  gleaned  many  interesting  par- 
ticulars of  the  autocrat,  and  had  no  doubt  of  his  real 
piety  and  love  for  the  Bible  Society.  This  distin- 
guished officer  very  frequently  dined  at  Mr.  Hill's, 
and  the  conversation  sometimes  turned  upon  the 
Greek  church,  the  errors  of  which  were  ably  pointed 
out  by  Mr.  Hill.  One  day  a  remark  was  made  on 
the  admirable  petition — "  By  all  thy  sufferir^gs, 
kjioiDit  and  unknown,  good  Lord  deliver  ns^  "Aye," 
said  Mr.  Hill,  "  I  consider  that  prayer  to  be  one  of  the 
most  touching  ever  uttered.  The  nnknown  suffer- 
ings of  Christ !  All  his  described  sufferings  were 
slight,  in  comparison  with  what  infinite  holiness  must 
have  felt  in  the  midst  of  sinners  ;  the  light,  the  glory 
of  heaven,  in  the  darkness  and  impurity  of  the  world, 


238  INTENSITY  OF  FEELING. 

yet  spotless,  and  without  sin  !  O  my  Saviour,  no 
tongue  can  describe,  no  angel  can  fathom,  the  abyss 
of  thy  suffering  for  me  a  sinner.  As  I  cannot  reach 
the  infinite  lieight  of  thy  love  and  thy  glor^^  in  hea- 
ven, so  I  cannot  descend  into  the  depths  of  thy  sor- 
rows when  here  on  earth.  I  can  only  wonder  and 
adore  !"  Often  did  he  burst  forth  with  strains  such 
as  these,  and  so  intense  were  his  feelings,  that  every 
nerve  seemed  shaken  with  the  workings  of  his  mind. 
Never  did  any  Christian  feel  more  completely,  the 
power  and  beauty  of  the  mysteries  of  redeeming 
love. 


FESTIVITIES  AT  THE  CONCLUSION  OF  THE  WAR.  239 


CHAPTER  XI. 

FESTIVITIES  AT  THE  CONCLUSION  OP  THE  WAR. 

Though  no  person  offered  sincerer  thanksgivings 
for  the  restoration  of  peace  than  Mr.  Rowland  Hill, 
he  constantly  expressed  his  disapprobation  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  victories  of  our  arms  were  cele- 
brated in  this  country.  In  allusion  to  the  roasting 
of  oxen  and  sheep,  and  other  festivities  at  Wotton,  he 
says,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  "  Had  twice  as  much  been 
distributed,  in  a  wholesome  and  orderly  manner,  I 
should  have  been  glad  to  have  been  in  the  thickest 
of  it ;"  but  as  he  considered  such  modes  of  manifest- 
ing a  nation's  joy,  neither  appropriate  to  the  occasion, 
nor  really  beneficial  to  the  poor,  he  declined  partici- 
pating in  them.  I  was  with  him  when  he  received 
the  news  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo  ;  on  finding  that 
his  five  gallant  nephews  had  survived  a  contest,  in 
which  so  many  brave  heroes  fell,  he  lifted  up  his 
hand  without  uttering  a  single  word.  The  expression 
of  his  countenance  is  still  pictured  in  my  memory :  it 
manifested  a  stronger  sense  of  gratitude  to  God,  than 
could  have  been  conveyed  bywords.  He  rose  from  his 
chair,  went  to  the  window,  looked  towards  the  lovely 
view  before  him,  as  if  to  conceal  the  emotions  by  which 
he  was  unmanned,  and  left  the  room  without  speaking. 
Though  Mr.  Hill  was  now  in  his  seventy-first  year,  he 
had  engagements  more  numerous  and  fatiguing,  than 
most  young  men  could  have  gone  through.  He  never 
preached  less  than  four  times  a  week  to  his  people  in 
London,  and  five  at  Wotton,  besides  meeting  the  so- 
ciety on  a  Monday  evening ;  in  addition  to  which, 
there  was  scarcely  a  religious  or  benevolent  institution, 


240  FATIGUES  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

according  with  the  views  he  had  adopted  as  his  rule  of 
action,  which  did  not  claim  and  receive  a  large  share 
of  his  exertions.  In  one  week,  when  past  the  age 
just  mentioned,  he  went  through  the  exertion  of  tra- 
velling a  hundred  miles  in  a  mountainous  part  of 
Wales,  and  preached  twenty-one  sermons !  Sometimes 
he  complained  that  he  was  tired  on  a  Sunday  evening; 
but  the  vivacity  of  his  conversation  and  the  liveliness 
of  his  manner  used  occasionally  to  elicit  the  remark, 
"Well,  sir,  yours  is  a  curious  sort  of  fatigue ;"  to 
which  he  would  reply,  "  I  was  tired  just  now,  but  I 
forgot  it."  In  a  letter  written  at  this  time,  he  observes 
how  wonderfully  he  had  been  favoured  with  health. 
"  Thanks  be  to  God,"  he  says,  "  with  a  very  few  ex- 
ceptions, I  have  had  an  abundant  share  oi  this  bless- 
ing, for  upwards  of  seventy  years.  No  wonder  if  I 
now  begin  to  complain  that  my  limbs  get  stitf,  and  tliat 
I  cannot  accomplish  similar  active  exertions  to  those 
of  former  days.  Still  may  the  will  be  the  same,  when 
the  power  is  denied.  The  glory  of  our  lives  should 
be  to  live  to  the  glory  of  God  ;  and  what  are  all  our 
doings,  compared  to  what  our  most  merciful  Eedeem- 
er  has  done  for  us  ?  O  for  a  spirit  of  full  dedication 
to  the  glory  of  God  !"  In  another  letter  he  remarks, 
"  Old  as  I  am,  I  am  just  returned  from  a  long  mission- 
ary ramble ;  but  I  feel  I  am  getting  old.  O  that 
I  may  work  well  to  the  last !"  In  all  his  journeys, 
even  when  he  had  reached  a  period  beyond  that 
usually  allotted  to  man,  he  was  disconcerted  if  he 
did  not  iind  a  pulpit  ready  for  him  every  evening. 
In  one  of  bis  letters  fixing  his  days  for  preaching, 
on  liis  road  to  some  place,  he  says,  "  Ever  since 
my  Master  has  put  me  into  office,  I  have  ever  es- 
teemed it  my  duty  to  remember  his  admonition — 
'  As  ye  go  preach.' "  His  general  answer  to  invi- 
tations to  houses  on  his  route,  was,  "  I  shall  be 
happy  to  come  to  you,  if  you  can  find  me  a  place  to 
preach  in." 

To  preach,  and  to  promote  the  preaching  of  Christ, 


QUALIFICATIONS  OF  PREACHERS.  341 

was  ever  a  prominent  object  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
life,  and  he  made  his  own  ease  and  convenience  en- 
tirely subservient  to  it.  This  induced  him  to  assist 
itinerants  whose  quaHfications  he  approved  ;  but  he 
never  countenanced  the  slightest  interference  with 
the  sphere  of  a  clergyman,  whose  doctrines  and  zeal 
were  admired  by  him.  In  writing  his  opinion  of 
the  sort  of  persons  required  for  such  a  work,  he 
says — "Lively,  zealous,  wise,  simple-hearted,  lil)eral- 
minded,  <fee.  &.c.  preachers,  are  all  we  want.  These 
cannot  be  manufactured  at  academies.  O  what  huge 
offence  I  gave  the  other  day,  by  warning  young 
preachers  not  to  travel  about  the  country,  ivith  a 
sack  of  dried  tongues  for  sale,  wherever  they  went. 
It  is  a  poor  traffic,  and  ill-calculated  to  bring  souls  to 
Christ."  Again  he  remarked  on  another  occasion — 
"Holy  and  faithful  ministers,  blessed  with  equal 
ability  and  zeal,  are  greatly  needed.  We  should  deal 
much  with  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  to  raise  them  up 
and  send  them  forth.  How  different  the  poor  tools 
of  ministers  of  our  manufacturing,  when  compared 
with  the  burning  and  shinuig  lights  the  Lord  can 
send  forth." 

Though  at  this  stage  of  his  life  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
was  free  from  most  of  those  temporal  cares  and  anxi- 
eties, which  are  the  painful  lot  of  many  of  God's  peo- 
ple, he  had  to  mourn  the  unexpected  decease  of  some 
highly  valued  friends  of  his  flock.  Two  of  these  were 
Mr.  Beames,  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Neale,  the  eldest  son 
of  the  proprietor  of  the  well  known  glass  and  china 
repository,  in  St.  Paul's  churchyard,  men  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  truth  and  benevolence.  Mr.  Hill's  af- 
fection for  the  former  of  these  excellent  Christians,  is 
thus  strongly  expressed  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  B.  Neale. 
"  I  ought  to  love  him  ;  he  is  my  wise,  and  good,  and 
faithful  friend.  Vital  Christianity  creates  many  such, 
and  there  is  no  real  friendship  out  of  Christ.  It  can- 
not be,  for  there  is  no  love  out  of  Christ,  for  he  alone 
is  the  centre  and  source  of  love." 
21 


342  LETTER  TO  MRS.  B.  NEALE. 

From  the  family  of  the  Neales,  Mr.  Hill  had  re- 
ceived for  many  years  the  strongest  proofs  of  attach- 
ment, and  maintained  such  an  intercourse  with  them, 
as  should  subsist  between  a  pastor  and  the  affection- 
ate members  of  his  congregation.  Mr.  Neale  was  a 
man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  and  appropriated  to  the 
cause  of  charity  and  religion,  a  large  share  of  the  in- 
come he  had  the  good  fortune  to  acquire  by  diligence 
in  business.  One  of  his  sons,  Mr.  Cornelius  Neale, 
obtained  the  first  mathematical  and  second  classical 
honours  of  his  year  at  Cambridge  :  he  was  senior 
wrangler  and  second  chancellor's  medallist.  His  lite- 
rary attainments  were  not  more  remarkable  than  the 
kindness  of  his  disposition,  of  which  I  had  three  years' 
happy  experience, being  placed  luider  his  able  tuition, 
through  the  recommendation  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill. 
Mr.  Cornelius  Neale  married  the  accomplished  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  John  Mason  Good,  the  well  known  author 
ofniany  valuable  works.  The  sincerity  of  Mr.  Hill's 
regard  for  Mr.  Benjamin  Neale,  will  appear  from  the 
following  letter,  addressed  to  Mrs.  Neale,  in  allusion 
to  the  alarming  state  of  her  husband's  health : 

Wotton,  August  22,  1815. 
My  dear  Madam, 

While  I  feel  myself  gratified  for  your  kind  atten- 
tion, in  sending  me  the  information  respecting  the 
dangerous  state  of  Mr.  Neale's  health  from  a  recent 
attack,  yet  no  news  could  have  aflected  me  more,  as  I 
have  no  friend  upon  earth  that  I  have  reason  more 
sincerely  to  value  and  esteem.  These  are  most  pain- 
ful events,  and  under  them  it  requires  a  great  sacrifice 
of  our  own  wills  to  say — "  Thy  will  be  done."  I  do 
not  blame  myself  for  this  struggle.  It  is  no  sign  that 
we  value  the  blessing  of  God,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
those  who  appeared  to  be  raised  up  for  useful  and  valu- 
able purposes,  if  we  can  part  with  them  without  regret. 
That  mind  is  badly  framed  that  prefers  stoical  indif- 
ference to  Christian  sensibility;  and  though  the  pain  is 


LETTER  TO  MRS.  B.  NEALE.  243 

abundantly  more  acute,  where  those  finer  feehngs  of 
the  mind  are  found  to  exist,  yet  who  that  deserves  the 
name  of  a  human  being  would  wish  to  be  without 
them  ?  The  man  without  natural  aftection  is  but  a 
monster  in  human  shape.  To  weep  with  those  that 
weep,  is  as  much  our  duty,  as  to  rejoice  witii  those  that 
rejoice,  while  there  is  a  secret  consolation  that  it  flows 
from  the  mind  of  Christ  within  us ;  for  when  the  fa- 
mily of  his  friend  Lazarus  partook  of  the  cup  of  hu- 
man wo,  Jesus  wept. 

We  are  not  to  live  in  this  world  of  wo,  without  be- 
ing called  to  the  exercise  of  the  same  sort  of  feelings 
by  similar  events.  Mrs.  Hill's  spirits  and  strength 
have  been  exceedingly  enervated  by  attending  on  her 
dying  brother  at  Wells. 

Your  best  beloved  has  been  enabled  to  live  to  God, 
and  such  die  to  be  eternally  with  him. 

As  soon  as  I  have  finished  this  letter,  I  must  write 
on  another  similar  subject.  This  morning's  post  has 
brought  me  the  tidings  of  the  dangerous  illness  of  a 
younger  brother — not  my  brother  Brian,  who,  I  be- 
lieve, is  known  to  you,  and  I  trust  is  known  to  God, 
but  of  another  brother. 

You  know  I  shall  be  naturally  anxious  to  hear  from 
you,  or  some  of  the  family,  on  a  speedy  day.  I  just 
tell  you  how  I  am  to  be  situated,  that  you  may  know 
how  to  direct.  I  shall  continue  in  this  place  till  Wed- 
nesday in  the  next  week,  the  30th  instant,  when  I  go 
to  Portsmouth  for  Mr.  Griffin,*  where  I  shall  continue 
about  a  fortnight  before  my  return. 

May  the  supporting  hand  be  upon  you.  With  most 
affectionate  love  to  all. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

R.  HILL. 
Mrs.  B.  Neale. 

*  One  of  Mr.  Hill's  constant  supplies  at  Surry  chapel,  and  the 
author  of  an  excellent  Funeral  Sermon  on  his  death. 


244  LETTER  TO  MRS.  B.  NEALE. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  B.  Neale,  Mr.  Hill  thus  beau- 
tifully addi'essed  the  language  of  condolence  to  his 
widow. 

Wottoji,  August  14,  1816. 
My  dear  Madam, 

Not  knowing  how  far  your  mind  might  have  been 
overpowered  by  the  hea\^  bereavement  you  have 
been  called  to  sustain,  I  was  just  preparing  to  make 
some  inquiries  from  Mr.  C.  Neale,  an  immediate  at- 
tention to  which,  I  feared,  might  too  much  revive  the 
sorrows  of  your  mind.  I  am  exceedingly  thankful, 
however,  by  the  contents  of  your  letter,  to  find  that 
you  have  been  supported  with  so  much  calmness  and 
sedateness  of  spirit  under  a  loss  so  irreparable  and 
severe.  Still,  not  irreparable,  if  he  who  decreed  it  is 
more  abundantly  the  portion  of  our  hearts  j  nor  yet 
severe,  if  we  can  believe  that  the  darkest  providence 
has  a  brighter  side  than  the  eye  of  sense  can  discern  : 
and  I  am  the  more  thankful  for  you,  dear  madam, 
since  I  am  satisfied,  that  holy  serenity  of  mind  is  no 
proof  of  apathy  and  unfeeling  indifference,  but  rather 
of  a  dignified  and  submissive  calmness,  before  him 
who  doeth  all  things  well.  I  therefore  greatly  thank 
God  on  your  behalf. 

Though  none  of  those  endearing  ties,  that  nature 
forms,  subsisted  between  me  and  our  late  invaluable 
friend,  yet  I  laiow  not  one  upon  the  earth  I  more  af- 
fectionately esteemed,  and  the  loss  of  whose  advice 
and  friendship  I  more  sincerely  regret.  But  these 
painful  deprivations  are  all  from  the  hand  of  God. 
We  deserve  them  as  judgments,  and  by  raising  up 
others  again,  he  can  restore  them  in  mercy;  and  if 
our  outward  adversity  tends  to  inward  prosperity, 
even  from  our  sharpest  trials  we  shall  obtain  joy  and 
gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away. 
Fruitless  sorrow  can  produce  nothing  better  than  re- 
bellious murmurings  before  God  ;  while  patient  sub- 
mission sweetens  every  bitter,  and  enables  us  to  say 


ATTEMPT  TO  ASSESS  SURRY  CHAPEL.  ^ 

that  all  is  well.  No  doubt  but  that  the  reflection  of 
the  loss  you  have  sustained,  will  be  frequently  re- 
turning to  your  mind  ;  but  still  it  is  not  an  unpleas- 
ing  melancholy,  while  we  can  recollect  those  pleas- 
ing qualities,  those  heavenly  graces  which  cannot  die 
with  those  that  die,  and  which  they  once  possessed, 
while  they  were  on  this  lower,  this  pilgrim  state  with 
us. 

As  you  say  nothing  particularly  respecting  your 
mother's  mind,  I  trust  she  is  blessed  with  the  same 
calmness,  and  holy  resignation  of  spirit  to  the  will  of 
God,  which  you  have  been  permitted  to  enjoy.  It  is 
an  honour  to  parents,  to  have  children  that  were  their 
joy  and  glory  while  in  life,  and  an  inexpressible  con- 
solation, to  believe  that  they  are  in  glory  after  life. 

With  the  sincerest  regard  to  the  remams  of  a  fa- 
mily for  whom  I  have  the  highest  lov^e  and  esteem, 
believe  me  to  be. 

Dear  madam. 

Yours  very  afFectionatelv, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 
Mrs.  B.  Neale. 

I  was  much  with  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  the  year 
1816,  during  the  period  of  his  resistance  to  the  at- 
tempt made  to  assess  Surry  chapel  to  the  parish  rates. 
By  his  exertions  these  efforts  proved  unsuccessful ; 
but  I  never  recollect  him  more  agitated  and  anxious, 
under  any  circumstances.  I  accompanied  him  to  the 
court  on  the  day  of  the  sixth  appeal,  and  witnessed 
the  numerous  congratulations  which  he  received, 
when  the  decision  proved  to  be  in  his  favour.  With 
most  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of 
Christ-church,  Mr.  Hill  lived  upon  very  friendly  terms, 
and  pleasing  interchanges  of  civility  took  place  be- 
tween himself  and  his  neighbours.  The  pamphlets 
of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  on  the  subject  of  ratinghis  chapel, 
are  known  to  the  public,  as  well  as  his  principles  of 
21* 


246  CHURCHMEN  AND  DISSENTERS. 

action :  it  will  not,  therefore,  be  necessary  for  me  to  ad- 
vert to  them  at  any  length.  Every  investigation  of 
the  finances  of  Snrry  chapel,  and  the  emoluments  of 
its  minister,  only  reflected  credit  on  his  disinterested- 
ness, and  the  benevolence  of  a  worthy  people.  Hurt 
as  he  was  by  the  repeated  trials  of  his  opponents  to 
attain  their  object,  he  was,  if  possible,  even  more 
grieved  at  the  insinuation,  that  he  was  hostile  to  the 
established  church.  "  No  one  circumstance,"  he  de- 
clared, "would  give  him  so  much  satisfaction,  as  to 
see  the  church  of  England  what  she  should  be — the 
living  temple  of  the  living  God — the  palladium  of 
British  piety,  and  the  glory  of  the  land." 

The  dissenters  are  much  indebted  to  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill,  for  his  exertions  on  behalf  of  their  religious 
liberties,  as  well  as  for  the  good  advice  he  gave  them 
upon  all  occasions.  I  recollect  his  coming  home  one 
day  from  a  meeting,  where  some  observations  had 
been  made  on  the  privileges  of  churchmen,  which  he 
disapproved.  "I  took  the  liberty,"  he  said,  "to  make 
a  few  remarks  ;  and  among  other  things  I  told  them, 
you  know  from  time  immemorial,  there  has  been  a 
certain  state  saddle,  and  those  who  have  a  firm  seat 
in  it,  will  naturally  kick  off"  those  who  try  to  get  up 
behind ;  and  if  you  could  get  into  it,  you  would  do 
just  the  same."  His  sentiments,  with  respect  to  the 
clergy  were — "It  is  the  chartered  privilege  of  the 
church  to  lead,  and  let  her  ministers  outlive  and  out- 
shine the  dissenters,  who  are  so  much  dreaded  by 
some  as  rivals,  by  a  conduct  which  is  consistent  with 
their  sacred  office,  and  we  shall  soon  see  what  will  be 
the  result.  No  churches  are  empty,  where  the  doc- 
trines of  the  reformation  are  duly  urged,  with  purity 
and  energy,  upon  the  people's  mind." 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  used  to  seize  every  opportunity 
of  showing  his  respect  for  the  active  ministers  of  the 
church,  and  was  very  particular  in  attending  the  an- 
niversary sermon,  preached  by  a  clergyman,  for  the 
London  Missionary  Society.  If  invited  elsewhere  on 


ANECDOTE.  247 

that  day,  he  repHed,  "  No,  no,  I  always  s:o  to  church, 
and  always  intend  it ;"  and  on  one  of  these  occasions, 
a  most  interesting  circumstance  occured.  The  preach- 
er was  Dr.  Gilbee,  formerly  rector  of  Barby,  North- 
amptonshire, whose  discourse  from  John  x.  16,  was 
full  of  piety  and  Christian  love.  Mr.  Hill  was  so  de- 
lighted, that  he  said,  "when  1  found  he  was  drawing 
to  a  conclusion,  1  could  hardly  help  crying  out  '  go 
on.  Dr.  Gilbee,  pray  give  us  a  little  more.'"  At  the 
close  of  the  service  he  went  to  the  vestry,  and  open- 
ing the  door  gently,  asked  permission  to  introduce 
himself. 

"  Dear  Dr.  Gilbee,  will  you  permit  a  poor  unworthy 
servant  of  our  Divine  Master,  to  thank  you  for  this 
day's  sermon  ?" 

"O  dearest  Mr.  Hill,"  exclaimed  Dr.  Gilbee,  "come 
in,  come  in — how  glad  I  am  to  see  you.  It  was  under 
your  ministry,  that  I  was  first  led  to  God  !"' 

This  declaration  was  followed  by  such  emotions  as 
are  experienced  by  those  alone  who  know  what  it  is 
to  reciprocate  the  affection  engendered  in  their  hearts 
by  the  communication  of  the  spirit  and  image  of  a 
crucified  Redeemer. 

Mr.  Hill  was  much  esteemed  by  his  late  Royal 
Highness  the  Duke  of  Kent,  who  took  every  oppor- 
tunity of  showing  him  both  public  and  private  marks 
of  his  regard.  I  remember  his  coming  twice  to  Sur- 
ry chapel ;  and  in  the  course  of  conversation  after- 
wards, in  the  drawing  room,  his  Royal  Highness  men- 
tioned how  much  he  was  struck  by  the  service,  par- 
ticularly the  singing. 

Mr.  Jacob,  the  organist  of  Surry  chapel,  was  a  per- 
former of  first-rate  talent,  and  had  refused  many  ad- 
vantageous offers  of  employment,  merely  from  con- 
scientious principles.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  indulged  him 
with  an  annual  sacred  performance,  for  the  benefit 
of  his  alms-houses,  to  which  persons  were  admitted 
by  five  shilling  tickets.  Choruses,  unusually  grand 
and  inspiring,  were  succeeded  by  the  most  striking 


348  THEOPHILUS  JONES. 

displays  of  the  power  of  the  organ,  played  by  such 
masters  of  the  art  as  Wesley,  Crotch,  and  Jacob.  The 
thunder-storm  of  the  latter  musician,  produced  an  al- 
most awful  eft'ect ;  to  which  a  performance,  on  the 
swell  of  the  organ,  accompanied  by  Salomon,  the  cele- 
brated violinist,  formed  a  soft  and  charming  contrast. 
Many  persons  were  pleased  with  these  oratorios; 
others  objected  to  them.  Mr.  Hill,  however,  as  he  posi- 
tively refused  to  allow  any  voluntary  on  the  Sunday, 
in  his  chapel,  thought  it  only  fair  to  give  the  excel- 
lent musician  who  conducted  the  singing,  an  oppor- 
tunity of  showing  his  powers,  considering  that  the 
character  of  the  music,  and  the  charitable  object  in 
view,  rendered  the  permission  perfectly  allowable. 

Mr.  Hill  first  heard  Jacob  at  the  commemoration 
of  Handel,  in  Westminster  Abbey,  where  he  sung  as 
a  boy.  He  was  appointed  organist  to  Surry  chapel 
at  a  very  early  age,  and  continued  in  that  situation 
for  many  years.  His  ear  was  so  fine,  that  he  was  se- 
lected by  the  great  Haydn  to  tune  his  pianoforte. 
Unhappy  diflferences  between  Mr.  Hill  and  himself 
separated  them  after  a  long  connexion ;  but  in  his 
last  illness  he  sent  for  his  venerable  pastor,  and  died 
expressing  towards  him,  the  same  afifection  and  vener- 
ation he  had  felt  in  former  years. 

Repeated  attempts  to  assess  Surry  chapel,  were  not 
the  only  events  by  which  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  ha- 
rassed at  this  period  of  his  life.  Certain  occurrences 
at  Wotton,  which  ended  in  the  departure  of  his  resi- 
dent assistant  from  that  place,  occupied  a  large  share 
of  his  attention.  He  became  exceedingly  anxious  to 
find  a  suitable  successor  for  this  situation,  and  dili- 
gently inquired  for  a  young  man  of  ability  and  piety, 
to  be  his  coadjutor  while  living,  and  succeed  him 
when  he  died.  Such  a  one  he  found,  to  his  great 
delight,  in  a  young  Welshman,  named  Theophilus 
Jones,  who  was  originally  apprenticed  to  the  trade 
of  a  cabinet-maker ;  but  gave  such  signs  of  zeal,  pie- 
ty, and  preaching  talents,  that  he  had  long  attracted 


THEOPHILUS  JONES.  249 

the  notice  of  those  who  recommended  him  to  Mr. 
Hill.  I  was  present  at  his  first  coming  to  Wotton, 
and  recollect  the  surprise  excited  by  the  easy  address 
and  sensible  conversation  of  a  person  only  just  emer- 
ged from  obscurity.  Mr.  Hill  and  his  hearers  were 
equally  pleased  with  their  new  minister,  who,  had 
his  taste  been  corrected,  and  his  understanding  train- 
ed by  early  education,  would  probably  have  ranked 
amongst  the  first  preachers  and  theologians  of  his 
day.  The  congi'egation,  diminished  by  reason  of  the 
differences  of  many  with  their  former  pastor,  was  not 
only  restored  to  its  previous  numbers,  but  aua^mented 
by  the  accession  of  a  large  body  of  fresh  members, 
attracted  by  the  popularity  of  Mr.  Jones.  After  a 
short  probation  he  was  ordained,  according  to  the 
mode  adopted  by  dissenters,  as  the  regular  minister 
of  Mr.  Hill's  Wotton  chapel,  where  he  continued  to 
labour  till  the  death  of  his  patron,  whose  funeral  he 
survived  little  more  than  a  week.  The  increased 
attendance  at  the  Tabernacle,  and  the  numerous 
conversions  which  followed  the  ministrations  of  this 
laborious  young  man,  gave  Mr.  Hill  the  sincerest 
pleasure.  His  anxiety  for  such  a  result,  he  thus  ex- 
presses in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jones,  soon  after  he  com- 
menced his  residence  at  Wotton.  "  How  thankful 
shall  I  be  to  hear  that  the  Lord  prospers  you  in  the 
work,  makes  you  a  complete  healer  of  the  breaches, 
and  has  given  you  the  honour  more  than  to  fill  up 
the  vacant  places  that  division,  and  sin,  and  death, 
has  made  among  us.  I  find  very  few  ministers  of  a 
truly  devoted  and  spiritual  cast.  Such  as  are  7nade 
7ip  by  the  artifice  of  man,  are  never  fit  to  do  the  work 
that  God  has  to  accomplish  in  his  living  church,  his 
spiritual  house,  in  which  he  himself  condescends  to 
dwell ;  and  believe  me,  my  dear  youth,  as  long  as 
God  continues  to  bless  you,  I  trust  nothing  will  be 
wanting  in  me,  to  add  to  your  happiness  and  comfort 
in  hfe.  The  next  time  you  meet  in  society,  present 
the  people  with  my  love  ;  and  if  there  have  been  jar- 


250  THEOPHILUS  JONES. 

ring  strings  among  us,  for  the  time  to  come  may  they 
be  so  well  tuned  by  the  skilful  hand  of  our  God, 
that  they  may  never  jar  again.  O  for  peace  and 
prosperity  within  the  lamp  of  God.  Nothing  can  Idc 
done  for  him,  without  Him.  O  for  more  simple  de- 
pendence on  His  almighty  strength."  He  gives  him 
also  the  following  hints  as  to  preaching : — "  Rash 
preaching  always  disgusts  ;  timid  preaching  does  no- 
thing but  leave  poor  souls  fast  asleep  ;  while  bold 
preaching,  if  delivered  under  an  affectionate  love  to 
the  souls  of  men,  and  with  an  humble  desire  to  pro- 
mote the  glory  of  God,  is  the  only  preaching  that  is 
owned  and  blessed  of  God." 

When  he  received  the  first  reports  of  his  labours 
and  success,  he  wi'ote  to  him — "  My  dear  youth,  while 
God  lilesses  you,  I  trust  it  will  be  my  happiness 
to  make  you  happy,  and  to  uphold  you  to  the  utmost 
of  my  feeble  powers.  I  trust  Wotton  will  be  a  place 
of  profitable  and  active  retirement,  preparatory  to  a 
sphere  of  more  extended  usefulness,  on  a  future  day. 
If  you  were  to  continue  the  same  plain  bawling 
Welshman  you  are  now,  in  your  present  situation,  I 
might  observe,  go  on  ;  never  mind  breaking  gram- 
mar, if  the  Lord  enables  you  to  break  hearts,  and 
bring  souls  to  Christ ;  but  if  you  could  acquire  a  little 
more  culture,  without  losing  any  of  your  zeal  and 
holy  simplicity  of  heart,  your  usefulness  might  be 
more  extended.  I  would  not  give  you  a  single  six- 
pence, to  have  your  tongue  dressed  at  any  of  our 
modern  academies ;  they  are,  in  general,  sad  soul- 
starvation  places.  Only  take  the  hint,  and  work  on, 
and  blunder  on,  as  hard  and  as  fast  as  you  can." 

The  advice  thus  offered,  was  not  lost  upon  Mr. 
Jones.  He  laboured  hard,  to  overcome  the  defects 
arising  from  his  want  of  education,  and  in  a  mea- 
sure succeeded.  At  length  Mr.  Hill,  seeing  his  praise- 
worthy improvement,  determined  to  make  him  one  of 
his  London  supplies,  and  invited  him  in  these  terms  : 
"  I  am  very  sorry  I  have  not  time  to  say  more,  than 


THEOPHILUS  JONES.  251 

that  I  love  you  much,  because  the  Lord  blesses  you, 
and  that  makes  me  bless  God  for  you.     It  does  my 

heart  good  to  hear  of  you  in  my  old  age.     Mr. 

is  to  give  you  five  pounds  towards  your  journey  to 
London  ;  and  the  first  thing  you  shall  do,  shall  be  to 
preach  Welsh  in  our  chapel,  and  that  will  clear  your 
throat  for  a  little  English  afterwards."  By  excessive 
application,  Mr.  Jones  had  stored  his  naturally  gifted 
mind  with  no  ordinary  share  of  doctrinal  theology, 
and  had  collected  an  admirable  library  of  old  divines, 
in  which  he  was  very  generously  assisted  by  his  pa- 
tron and  friends.  Hence,  while  his  manner  was  ener- 
getic in  the  extreme,  his  voice  at  times  overpowering, 
and  his  delivery  without  the  slightest  culture,  such  was 
the  excellence  of  his  matter,  and  so  searching  were  his 
sermons,  that  all  defects  were  overlooked,  in  the  midst 
of  a  flow  of  admirable  and  awakening  truths.  Mr. 
Hill  wrote  to  him  on  this  subject,  in  his  own  kind 
and  original  style.  "  As  for  matter^''  he  says,  "  I  shall 
not  be  ashamed  to  own  you  as  a  brother  minister,  all 
the  world  over  ;  but  as  to  manner,  yon  greatly  put 
me  in  mind  of  myself  in  my  younger  days.  When  I 
was  once  set  a-going,  I  was  almost  afraid  to  stop  and 
pause,  even  for  a  little  breath,  lest  I  should  be  stuck 
fast.  Now,  I  prophesy  concerning  you,  that  your, 
ministry  will  be  more  powerful,  if,  at  times,  you  are 
less  vehement.  I  say  at  times  ;  for  there  are  those 
sort  of  solenm  sentiments,  that  require  the  utmost 
energy  that  can  be  adopted  :  but  the  same  sort  of  mo- 
notony of  loud  speaking  throughout,  spoils  this  good 
effect ;  even  your  bodily  health  will  feel  the  advan- 
tage of  [less  exertion],  and  the  people  will  be  bene- 
fited thereby.  Still,  my  dear  youth,  let  not  any  painful 
cold  attention  to  manner  and  voice,  chill  the  warmth 
of  your  heart,  and  the  fervency  of  your  zeal  to  bring 
souls  to  God.  Let  it  be  your  main  study  to  feel  well, 
that  you  may  make  the  people  feel  well,  and  then 
good  will  be  the  result.  Go  on  and  prosper,  and  be 
assured  that  you  have  a  very  warm  place  in  my  af- 


253  VILLAGE  PREACHING. 

fections  and  esteem  ;  and  that  it  is  with  uncommon 
satisfaction  and  joy,  I  bless  God,  that  you  have  been 
sent  amongst  us."  On  another  occasion,  Mr.  Hill  ex- 
pressed himself  in  terms  well  worthy  the  attention  of 
every  minister.  After  inquiring  how  his  young  as- 
sistant prospered,  wliat  fresh  trophies  were  won  over 
the  powers  of  darkness,  and  how  the  children  of  God 
prospered  among  themselves,  he  proceeds  : — "  In  the 
church  of  Christ,  life  begets  life,  all  the  world  over, 
and  death  generates  death.  O  that  I  was  more  cau- 
tious respecting  myself  as  a  minister,  as  so  much  de- 
pends on  us  how  it  is  with  the  people  also.^  We 
work  badly  upon  the  hearts  of  others,  but  as  God  in 
intinite  mercy  works  well  in  us  :  we  preacli  best  when 
we  feel  best ;  and  the  nearer  we  live  to  God,  the  bet- 
ter we  feel.  A  religion,  without  feeling,  is  no  religion. 
How  can  we  have  repentance,  without  feeling  holy 
sorrow  for  sin,  and  indignation  against  it  ?  How  can 
we  have  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  behold  that  in- 
finite fulness  of  grace  treasured  up  in  him  for  us, 
without  rejoicing  in  him,  while  we  believe  with  joy 
unspeakable  and  fiill  of  glory  ?  Converts  made  by 
mere  human  persuasion,  only  corrupt  the  church, 
having  nothing  but  a  name  to  live,  while  they  are 
dead.  Death  must  be  the  result  of  any  connexion 
with  them ;  while  nothing  revives  the  church  so  de- 
lightfully, as  when  it  is  frequently  the  birth-place  of 
new-born  souls.  Such  are  the  only  evidences  and 
seals,  to  the  ministers  themselves,  that  they  are  sent 
of  God." 

The  course  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  prescribed  to  Mr, 
Jones,  was  much  like  that  pursued  by  himself  He 
was  not  willing  that  he  should  lose  a  single  day,  and 
offered  him  poor  old  "Bob,"  his  favourite  saddle-horse, 
to  carry  him  on  preaching  expeditions,  to  all  the  vil- 
lages aroimd  Wotton.  In  one  of  his  letters  he  says, 
"  I  hope  old  Bobby  and  you  are  perfectly  agreed  about 
village  preaching ;" — and  in  another,  "  The  best  covet- 
ousness  a  minister  can  possess,  is  to  be  covetous  aftej 


aUALlPICATIONS  FOR    THE  MINISTRY.  253 

the  souls  of  men.  We  should  judge  our  work  is  never 
done,  while  one  single  unconverted  soul  is  within  our 
reach.  Alas,  then  !  how  little  we  have  done  in  com- 
parison of  what  we  have  to  do  !  O  for  more  of  that 
holy  zeal  which  makes  us  travail  in  birth  again,  till 
Christ  shall  be  formed  within  the  souls  of  thousands 
that  are  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  ! " 

No  man  ever  had  more  solemn  views  than  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill,  of  the  true  nature  of  the  ministerial 
work,  and  of  the  necessity  of  an  humble  dependence  on 
the  Lord's  assistance,  for  a  blessing  in  it.  One  of  his 
remarks  was — "  If  favoured  at  any  time  with  what  is 
called  a  good  opportunity,  I  am  too  apt  to  catch  my- 
self saying — "  Well  done  I,  when  I  should  lie  in  the 
dust,  and  give  God  all  the  glory."'  Another  was — 
"  Lord  make  me  distrustflil  of  myself,  that  I  may  con- 
fide in  thee  alone— self-dependence  is  the  pharisee's 
liio^h  road  to  destruction."  "  Oh  dear,"  he  said,  '•  what 
poor  stuff  makes  a  preacher  in  the  present  day  ! — a 
useflil  minister  must  have  brains  in  his  head,  prudence 
in  his  conduct,  and  grace  in  his  heart ;  which  is  more 
than  too  many  of  the  7nade-up  talkers,  who  set  up  in 
these  times  for  preachers,  have." 

He  was  accustomed  strongly  to  urge,  on  all  who  en- 
tered the  sacred  office,  the  necessity  of  maintaining 
christian  and  heavenly  tempers  among  their  people ; 
"  Some  folks,"  he  would  say,  "  appear  as  if  they  had 
been  bathed  in  crab  verjuice  in  their  infancy,  which 
penetrated  through  their  skins,  and  has  made  them 
sour-blooded  ever  since — but  this  will  not  do  for  a 
messenger  of  the  gospel ;  as  he  bears  a  message,  so  he 
must  manifest  a  spirit  of  love."  A  minister  having 
observed  to  him,  that  notwithstanding  the  fault  found 
with  his  dry  sermons,  there  were  hopes  of  their  use- 
fulness, for  Sampson  had  slain  the  Philistines  with  the 
jaw-bone  of  an  ass — "  True,  he  did,"  replied  Mr.  Hill, 
"  but  it  was  a  moist  jaw-bone."  He  used  to  like  Dr. 
Ryland's  advice  to  his  young  academicians — "Mind, 
no  sermon  is  of  any  value,  or  likely  to  be  useful,  which 
22 


254  aUALlFICATIONS  FOR  THE  MINISTRY. 

has  not  the  three  R's  in  it — Ruin  by  the  Fall — Re- 
demption by  Christ — Regeneration  by  the  Holy  Spirit." 
Of  himself  he  remarked,  "  My  aim,  in  every  sermon, 
is  a  stout  and  lusty  call  to  sinners,  to  quicken  the 
saints,  and  to  be  made  a  universal  blessing  to  all." 
It  was  a  favourite  saying  with  him — •"  The  nearer  we 
live  to  God,  the  better  we  are  enabled  to  serve  him. 
O  how  I  hate  my  own  noise,  when  I  have  nothing  to 
make  a  noise  about.  Heavenly  wisdom  creates 
heavenly  utterance."  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jones  he  ob- 
serves— "There  is  something  in  preaching  the  gos- 
pel, with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven,  I 
long  to  get  at.  At  times,  I  think  I  feel  somewhat 
like  it,  and  then  I  bawl  almost  as  bad  as  the  Welsh- 
man. If  we  deal  with  divine  realities,  we  ought  to 
feel  them  such,  and  then  the  people  will  in  general 
feel  with  us,  and  acknowledge  the  power  that  does 
wonders  on  the  heart ;  while  dry,  formal,  discussion- 
al  preaching,  leaves  the  hearers  just  where  it  found 
them.  Still,  they  who  are  thus  favoured,  had  need  to 
be  favoured  with  a  deal  of  humility.     We  are  too  apt 

to  be  proud  of  that  which  is  not  our  own 

O  humility,  humility,  humility  !" 

It  is  no  wonder,  with  such  impressions  as  to  the 
nature  of  his  work,  and  the  state  of  his  mind,  that  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill's  preaching  was  so  honoured  and  bless- 
ed of  God.  "  Lord  help,"  was  his  constant,  earnest 
prayer,  and  it  was  heard. 


VILLAGE  ITINERANCY. 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

VILLAGE  ITINERANCY. 

The  too  long  neglected  condition  of  a  large  portion 
of  our  rural  population,  and  the  desecration  of  the 
sabbath  by  every  species  of  unholy  pastime,  were  evils 
earnestly  deplored,  and  assiduously  endeavoured  to  be 
corrected  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  wherever  his  influence 
extended.  With  this  view,  he  was  for  many  years  de- 
voted to  the  promotion  of  village  preaching ;  not  for 
the  purpose  of  interference,  to  assist  the  grov/th  of  a 
sect,  within  the  legitimate  sphere  of  an  exemplary 
clergyman,  but  to  gather  those,  v/ho  wandered  as 
sheep  having  no  shepherd,  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 
For  the  furtherance  of  this  object,  Mr.  Hill  became  a 
very  active  member  of  a  society  called  the  Village 
Itinerancy,  on  whose  committees,  I  find  from  the  me- 
moranda of  his  engagements,  he  was  a  frequent  attend- 
ant. It  was  in  the  year  1796,  that  proposals  were 
made  for  the  establishment  of  this  institution,  to  which 
a  theological  seminary  was  added  in  the  year  1803. 
The  tuitionof  the  students  has  long  been  superintend- 
ed by  the  Rev.  George  Collision,  a  truly  pious  and  ex- 
cellent man,  much  esteemed  by  Mr.  Hill,  and  whose 
primary  object  is  to  make  every  other  species  of  know- 
ledge subsidiary  to  that  of  the  scriptures. 

No  minister  can  be  permitted  to  occupy  any  of  the 
stations  selected  by  this  society,  whose  sentiments  "are 
not  conformable  to  the  doctrinal  articles  of  the  church 
of  England ,"  and  I  believe  there  has  never  occurred 
an  instance  of  its  itinerants  having  trespassed  on  a 
field  diligently  and  wisely  cultivated  by  the  labours 
of  others.  Had  its  designs  extended  beyond  "theneg- 


256  VILLAGE   ITINE:RA^'CY 

lected  districts  of  our  land,"  it  would  not  have  receiv- 
ed the  countenance  and  support  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill, 
whom  I  have  often  heard  make  some  of  his  severest 
remarks,  on  the  conduct  of  such  as  use  every  artifice 
to  decoy,  to  their  places  of  worship,  the  converts  of 
faithful  and  successful  ministers.  From  the  active 
share  taken  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  in  the  business  of 
the  Village  Itinerancy,  it  is  evident,  that  its  members 
professed  a  spirit  kindred  with  his  own,  in  their  at- 
tempts to  ameliorate  the  destitute  condition  of  thou- 
sands of  our  fellow-countrymxn,  who  are  living  in  all 
the  ignorance  and  depravity  of  heathens,  for  want  of 
more  pressing  calls  to  the  only  source  of  wisdom, 
piety,  and  happiness.  To  use  the  words  of  Mr.  Hill, 
his  great  design  was,  "  to  enrich  the  church  by  fresh 
trophies  of  grace,"  and,  I  may  add,  to  bring  forth  cap- 
tives from  the  dark  strong-holds  of  Satan,  into  the 
glorious  light  and  liberty  of  the  gospel. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  constantly  urging  the  duty 
of  selecting  preachers,  to  go  forth  among  those  who 
were  destitute  of  the  means  of  grace,  and  of  providing 
accommodation  for  worship,  in  places  not  possessing 
this  advantage.  It  was  part  of  his  principle,  that  all- 
young  converts  should  be  set  to  work  for  God,  in  a 
manner  suitable  to  their  natural  gifts  or  relative  situa- 
tions. Some  he  recommended  as  teachers  in  Sunday 
schools,  others  as  expositors  of  the  plain  truths  of  the 
scriptures  to  the  simple  and  ignorant,  and  those  who 
enjoyed  a  ripeness  of  religious  experience  were  advis- 
ed to  become  visiters  of  the  sick.  There  is  employ- 
n^ent  in  the  vineyard,  he  always  considered,  for  every 
description  of  labourer,  but  he  strongly  urged  the  ne- 
cessity of  duly  weighing  the  nature  of  the  department 
most  suitable  to  individual  circumstances,  A  young 
and  respectable  tradesman,  remarkable  for  diligence 
in  the  Surry  chapel  Sunday  schools,  consulted  Mr. 
Hill  on  the  propriety  of  becoming  a  minister,  and  re- 
ceived the  following  answer  to  his  inquiries  : 


LETTER  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  257 

Wotton,  October. 
My  dear  young  friend, 

As  the  office  of  a  niinister  seems  to  be  beyond  all 
others  the  most  useful,  so  I  am  not  surprised  that 
such  as  feel  themselves  devoted  to  God,  are  desirous 
to  fill  that  office  :  and,  though  the  grand  work  in  those 
that  may  be  called  to  fill  that  important  trust,  must 
be  found  in  a  real  work  of  grace  upon  their  own  hearts, 
yet  there  are  other  qualifications  absolutely  needed, 
before  they  can  prove  themselves  "workmen  that  need 
not  be  ashamed."  There  must  be  a  measure  of  natu- 
ral gifts,  as  well  as  spiritual  graces  ;  and  though  we 
may  Imow  how  far  we  may  possess  the  one,  by  a 
close  examination  of  our  hearts  before  God,  the  other, 
I  should  suppose,  can  only  be  discovered  to  us  by  a 
due  and  proper  use  of  means. 

There  is  what  the  scripture  calls  an  aptitude  to 
teach — a  quickness  and  readiness  of  thought,  well  re- 
gulated by  the  letter  of  the  word,  and  by  that  wisdom 
which  is  from  above  ;  and,  for  the  want  of  this,  many 
have  entered  into  the  ministry  to  prove  a  burden  to 
themselves,  and  a  dead  weight  to  the  churches  they 
may  be  called  to  serve.  Now  this  holy  aptitude,  in 
my  opinion,  can  only  be  discovered  by  the  practical 
exercise  of  such  gifts,  of  which  others  are  always  bet- 
ter judges  thamwe  can  be  ourselves  ;  and  such  will  be 
naturally  called  forth  for  the  further  exercise  of  them, 
by  such  as  have  felt  the  spiritual  good  of  them  to  their 
hearts :  and  then,  if  Providence  sets  before  you  such 
open  doors  as  these,  you  may  better  judge  how  far 
you  are  called  to  the  sacred  office.  As  for  all  human 
erudition,  however  good  in  its  place,  yet,  in  itself,  it 
is  nothing,  it  is  much  worse  than  nothing.  How 
many  of  our  half-dead  churches,  are  contented  to  be 
filled  with  mere  pulpit  lumber  of  this  sort,  while  the 
prosperity  even  of  living  churches  is  greatly  impeded 
thereby  ?  In  addition  to  this,  what  heart  burnings 
and  animosities  are  the  result,  which  too  frequently 
22* 


S58  LETTER  OF  MR.   ROWLAND  HILL. 

terminate  in  painful  divisions  and  separations,  to  the 
disgrace  of  the  sacred  cause. 

In  these  free  remarks,  while  I  cannot  entertain  the 
most  distant  doubt,  respecting;  your  integrity  and  up- 
rightness before  God,  yet  I  have  hved  too  long  in  the 
world,  not  to  know  the  need  of  such  hints  as  these, 
and  I  am  sure  you  will  take  them  as  they  are  really 
meant. 

Let  me  also  drop  a  further  hint,  as  respects  your 
present  situation  in  life.  All  tradesmen  who  by  their 
own  honesty  and  intearity,  can  preserve  for  them- 
selves an  honourable  independence,  fill  a  creditable 
situation  in  life,  and  are  not  debarred  from  being  oc- 
casionally useful  in  the  church  of  Christ.  You,  at 
present,  are  most  usefully  engaged  in  our  Sunday 
schools,  and  the  gratuitous  services  of  yourself  and 
others,  are  highly  creditable  and  beneficial  to  the 
cause.  While  thus  engaged,  you  may,  by  degrees, 
feel  your  way,  how  far  the  Lord  may  design  you  for 
more  extended  usefulness  in  the  work,  and  this  alone 
a  future  day  can  decide. 

And  now  for  my  last  hint,  till  I  shall  [D.  Y.]  again 
see  you  in  town.  A  person  who  enters  the  ministry, 
and  is  obhged  to  be  entirely  dependent  upon  the 
people  for  his  support,  unless  he  be  of  remarkable 
abilities,  is  frequently  called  to  suffe^  severely  from 
those  who  furnish  him  with  his  support ;  and  if  you 
should  throw  up  a  profitable  concern,  you  may  suf- 
fer for  it  in  a  future  day.  While  I  would  at  all  times 
wish  to  live  dependent  on  God,  yet  it  is  a  great  pri- 
vilege to  live  a  little  independently  of  the  world. 

I  shall  be  both  thankful  for  your  atfliction.  and 
thankful  for  your  recover)'',  if  it  has  proved  a  profitable 
season  for  your  soul.  Sanctified  afilictions  are  spiritual 
promotions  :  what  a  mercy  to  be  better  for  the  rod  ! 

With  cordial  love  to  your  family  and  all  friends, 
believe  me  to  be, 

Yery  sincerely  yours, 

RO^YLAND  HILL. 


NECESSITY  OF  EXERTION  AT  HOME.  259 

From  this  letter  may  be  gathered  the  sentiments  of 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  with  reference  to  the  gifts  required 
in  the  sacred  office  of  preaching,  and  it  would  be 
well,  if  a  more  general  regard  were  paid  to  tlie  aptitude 
for  teaching,  by  all  persons  engasing  in  these  solemn 
duties.  The  rule  Mr.  Hill  prescribed  to  himself,  and 
exhorted  others  to  follow,  was — "While  a  soul  within 
our  reach  is  ignorant  of  a  Saviour,  we  must  endeavour 
to  win  him  to  Ctirist," — in  which,  however  diftering 
as  to  the  best  means  of  efiecting  this  object,  all  true 
Christians  cannot  fail  heartily  to  concur.  These  are, 
nevertheless,  to  be  carefully  considered,  before  we  em- 
bark in  so  serious  an  undertaking,  lest  our  zeal,  un- 
tempered  with  wisdom  and  prudence,  should  caLTry 
us  into  the  battle,  like  the  mettle  of  a  sightless  war- 
horse,  only  to  receive  wounds,  and  retreat  incapaci- 
tated for  further  exertions.  Particular  cases  of  appa- 
rent interest,  must  sometimes  be  passed  over,  for  the 
sake  of  securing  a  larger  aggregate  of  usefulness,  and 
with  this  view  all  our  calculations  should  be  made. 
Still,  on  the  contrar\\  will  it  be  proper  to  inquire, 
how  far  these  are  consistent  with  the  positive  com- 
mand "  to  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature  :'•  and 
it  appears  to  me,  to  be  a  matter  worthy  of  the  earnest 
attention  of  the  members  of  our  church,  how  we  may 
most  effectually  promote  an  ingathering  of  the  for- 
saken outcasts  of  our  community.  Some  plan  could 
surely  be  devised,  so  that  missionaries,  acting  in  perfect 
conformity  with  established  rules,  might  be  commis- 
sioned to  invite  the  thousands,  in  the  precincts  of  our 
large  towns,  whose  numbers  and  situation  place 
them  beyond  the  reach  of  the  efficient  exertions  of 
an  appointed  minister.  Our  district  visiters,  and,  I 
may  say,  the  agents  of  our  Prayer  Book  and  Homily 
Society,  have  effected  much  good  in  this  way :  but 
they  have  scarcely  crossed  the  margin  of  a  widely 
extended  field,  hitherto  left  as  desert  as  the  barren 
wilderness,  and  almost  as  unexplored.  While  we 
have  carried  the  seeds  of  truths  and  have  cultivated 


260  SEAMEN.       WATERLOO  BRIDGE. 

the  regions  of  our  very  antipodes,  is  it  not  a  strange 
inconsistency,  to  sufier  any  portion  of  the  land  in 
which  we  dwell,  to  remain  unblessed  with  husband- 
men, fit  and  able,  under  the  divine  guidance,  to  con- 
vert the  moral  barrenness  of  the  immense  waste  be- 
fore us,  into  a  sciene  of  verdure,  fruitfulness,  and 
beauty  ? 

In  unison  with  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  expressed  de- 
sire, to  win  every  soul  within  his  reach  to  Christ,  his 
efforts  M'ere  often  directed  to  the  seamen  of  Great 
Britain.  He  was  one  of  the  first  promoters  of  a  float- 
ing place  of  worship,  in  which  the  heroes  of  the  deep 
might  hear  the  gospel,  on  the  bosom  of  their  favourite 
element.  He  loved  preaching  to  sailors,  and  was 
once  much  encouraged  by  accidentally  overhearing 
three  or  four  of  these  brave  fellows,  supplicating  at 
the  throne  of  gi'ace,  in  the  most  touching  accents,  for 
a  blessing  on  his  labours.  The  seamen  returned  his 
kindness  with  the  deepest  regard  ;  and  I  remember 
once,  an  honest  tar  knocked  us  up  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  to  say  that  he  had  taken  "  a  passage 
to  the  West  by  a  five  o'clock  coach,"  but  that  he 
could  not  leave,  without  just  having  a  peep  at  his 
dear  Rowland  Hill,  and  craving  his  blessing. 

One  of  Mr.  Hill's  favourite  recreations,  was  watch- 
ing the  progress  of  the  erection  of  Waterloo-bridge. 
Many  a  walk  have  I  taken  there  with  him.  The 
workmen  knew  him,  and  would  look  up  and  smile 
when  they  saw  him  coming,  for  he  had  generally 
some  good-natured  remark  ready  to  accost  them  with. 
He  was  once  near  meeting  with  a  serious  accident 
there,  from  walking  carelessly  on  the  edge  of  a  plank, 
but  was  saved  by  the  prompt  interposition  of  a  person 
engaged  in  the  works.  As  was  the  case  with  him, 
in  every  thing  to  which  he  turned  his  thoughts,  he 
gathered  from  these  visits  illustrations  for  his  preach- 
ing. I  recollect  his  saying,  in  one  of  his  sermons  on 
the  present  state  of  the  church  and  of  the  world,  "If 
we  look  on Iv  at  tlie  confusion  which  exists  around 


MISSIONARY  MUSEUM.  261 

US,  we  shall  see  but  little  sign  of  the  fulfilments  of 
the  great  revealed  purposes  of  God.  But  he  does  de- 
sign to  raise,  from  the  apparently  incongruous  mate- 
rials which  are  scattered  upon  the  earth,  a  temple  to 
his  own  glory,  of  which  his  people  are  to  be  the  lively 
stones.  What  appears  to  us  to  be  irregularity  and 
disorder,  will  all  be  made  subservient  to  the  plan 
of  the  great  Architect.  I  went  down  yesterday  to 
see  the  works  at  the  new  bridge  ;  all  appears  con- 
fusion ;  but  soon  shall  this  confusion  be  cleared  away, 
and  a  noble  monument  of  art  do  honour  to  the  con- 
triver's genius.  So  it  is  with  the  aspect  of  the  world  ; 
we  must  not  regard  so  much  present  appearances,  as 
future  prospects ;  only  let  us  be  found  working  for 
God.  Oh  !  how  the  workmen  laboured  at  the  huge 
masses  of  stone,  to  fit  them  for  their  places  ;  so  the 
Lord  is  at  work,  in  polishing  and  framing  for  their 
places,  the  living  stones  of  his  glorious  building,  that 
we  may  be  made  like  unto  Him  who  is  himself  the 
chief  corner  stone,  and  be  happy  in  his  presence,  in 
holiness  for  ever." 

Another  of  Mr.  Hill's  favourite  places  of  resort,  was 
the  museum  of  the  London  Missionary  Society.  1 
have  often  gone  there  with  him,  where  we  used  to 
meet  his  old  fellow-labourer  in  the  same  cause,  Mat- 
thew Wilks,  whose  zeal  was  as  fervent  in  mission- 
aiy  efforts  as  his  own.  Mr.  Wilks  would  say,  "  these 
are  the  signs  of  the  great  work,  and  it  does  our  old 
hearts  good  to  see  them.  Well,  how  is  your  eye 
now,  Mr.  Hill,  is  it  better?"  On  Mr.  Hill's  replying 
that  it  was  free  from  pain  and  irritability,  but  very 
dim,  he  remarked,  with  his  own  peculiar  look  and 
voice — "  well,  if  you  cannot  see  you  can  preach. 
What  a  mercy — -if  you  were  quite  blind,  you  could 
jn^each,  eh  ! — what  a  comfort  to  have  it  in  the  head, 
and  feel  it  in  the  heart— that  must  be  your  consola- 
tion, and  it  is  the  only  one."  Matthew  Wiiks  was  an 
eccentric  minister  of  the  old  school,  but  possessed  a 
vigorous  understanding,  a  benevolent  heart,  and  a 


262  FRUITS  OF  MISSIONARY  ZEAL. 

great  depth  of  theological  knowledge.  When  he 
died,  his  loss  was  keenly  felt  by  Mr.  Hill,  who  attend 
ed  his  funeral,  and  at  the  grave,  passed  a  well-merited 
eulogium  on  the  many  excellences  of  his  character. 

Mr.  Hill's  missionary  zeal  did  not  effervesce  and 
evaporate  in  a  speech  upon  a  platform,  or  the  excite- 
ment of  a  sermon  :  it  was  carried  home  to  his  fire- 
side, formed  the  frequent  topic  of  his  conversation, 
and  the  theme  of  fervent  supplication  at  the  family 
altar.  After  a  meeting,  where  he  had  seen  some  con- 
vert to  the  o;ospel  from  the  miseries  of  barbarism  and 
idolatry,  I  have  known  him  so  filled  with  holy  joy, 
that  he  could  converse  on  nothing  else.  Adverting 
to  the  appearance  of  the  convert,  he  would  remark, 
"  Blessed  be  God  for  these  first  fruits — did  you  ob- 
serve the  gentle  manners  and  the  innocent  smile  of 
one,  that  was  but  a  short  time  ago  ferocious,  and, 
perhaps,  a  cannibal !  O  Avhat  a  work  is  divine  grace 
in  the  human  soul ;  imparting  to  a  savage,  all  the 
decorum  and  delicacy  of  the  most  cultivated  mind." 

AVhen  Prince  Rataaffe,  from  Madagascar,  visited 
this  country,  and  attended  the  anniversary  of  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  Mr.  Hill  was  completely 
overpowered  by  his  feelings.  The  poor  boys,  too, 
sent  here  from  the  same  island,  were  continually  in- 
vited to  his  house,  and  treated  by  him  with  every  spe- 
cies of  kindness  and  attention.  After  they  had  been 
a  short  time  in  liondon,  he  invited  Lord  Gambler  and 
Mr.  Wilberforce  to  come  and  see  them.  Their  man- 
ner towards  the  young  strangers  seemed  in  an  instant 
to  win  their  confidence,  and  it  was  a  most  truly  inter- 
esting spectacle,  to  see  these  three  benefactors  of  the 
human  race,  rejoicing  over  those  they  hoped  to  rescue 
from  the  thraldom  of  ignorance,  superstition,  and 
idolatry.  Mr.  Hill  often  spoke  of  the  pleasure  he  en- 
joyed on  that  day,  and  never  without  some  affectionate 
expression  of  his  esteem  for  the  abolisher  of  the  slave 
trade,  and  the  friend  of  every  effort  to  promote  the 
best  interests  of  mankind. 


INCONSISTENCIES  OF  PROFESSORS.  263 

It  is  a  melancholy  fact,  that  the  inconsistency  of 
professing  Christians  has  often  staggered  the  convert- 
ed heathen,  who  have  been  brought  to  onr  shores  as 
specimens  of  the  happy  effects  of  missionary  labours. 
One  of  the  poor  Hottentots,  who  came  over  with 
Kitchener,  said,  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Hill,  "  Me  tink 
all  English  real  Christians  before  me  come;  me'fraid 
not  now," — a  severe  rebuke  from  such  a  quarter,  that 
should  teach  us  the  great  importance  of  exhibiting,  in 
our  own  example,  the  force  of  the  precepts  we  incul- 
cate upon  others. 

Once,  perceiving  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  be  unusually 
pensive,  and  hearing  him  sigh,  I  ventured  to  say  to 
him,  "Sir,  I  hope  nothing  is  the  matter  with  you." 
"No,  Sidney,"  he  replied,  "  I  was  only  thinking  how 
weary  1  am  of  a  great  deal  of  what  is  called  the  reli- 
gious tvorld!"  In  writing  to  a  friend,  who  was  much 
staggered  by  the  conduct  of  some  who  had  been  sup- 
posed to  be  under  the  influence  of  religion,  he  remarks, 
"  I  am  grieved,  my  dear  sir,  that  you  have  seen  so 
much  among  religious  professors,  that  is  so  contrary 
to  their  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Real 
religion  is  still  the  same,  let  the  professors  of  it  be 
what  they  may."  In  the  year  1818,  when  informed 
of  the  death  of  two  individuals,  whose  lives  had  cast 
stumbling-blocks  in  the  way  of  many,  and  had  been 
very  distressing  to  himself,  Mr.  Hill  observes,  in  a  letter, 

"  And  so  poor and are  both  gone.   O  what 

a  mercy,  to  be  blest  with  a  blameless  and  harmless 
conduct  through  life,  that  real  religion  may  be  a 
greater  credit  to  us,  than  such  poor  worms  can  be  to 
it,  in  the  whole  of  our  deportment  through  the  world ! 
Happy  they  who  are  kept  by  that  power  \vhich 
keeps  so  gloriously.  That  we  may  live  to  God,  may 
we  live  on  God  ;  then  shall  we  live  with  God  to  all 
eternity." 

Li  the  letter  from  which  the  last  quotation  is  taken, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  communicates  to  his  friend,  the 
wonderful  triumphs  of  the  missionary  cause  in  Ota- 


264  SOUTH  SEAS. 

heite.  "  Charming  news  from  the  South  Seas.  The 
next  number  of  the  magazine  will  be  worth  your 
reading.  How  i.s  the  Lord  making  those  to  be  his 
people,  that  were  not  his  people.  A  large  cargo  of 
their  gods  is  now  on  its  voyage,  as  a  present  to  the 
Missionary  Society,  and  in  others  of  the  South  Sea 
Islands,  they  seem  preparing  to  treat  their  deities  with 
the  same  contempt."  The  converted  Pomarre  and  his 
subjects,  were  often  in  the  thoughts  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill,  and  received  from  him  some  interesting  tokens 
of  his  regard. 

Aged  as  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  were,  at  the  period 
to  which  I  have  just  referred,  they  made  the  weight 
of  years  no  excuse  for  repose  or  inactivity,  but  court- 
ed rather  than  avoided  every  useful  exertion.  When 
engagements,  multiplying  around  Mr.  Hill,  occupied 
his  time  and  attention,  Mrs.  Hill  would  answer  or  ar- 
range for  him  his  daily  accumulating  pile  of  letters, 
and  tluis,  in  a  considerable  degree,  relieve  the  anxiety 
of  his  mind.  Their  only  source  of  grief,  seemed  to  be 
the  loss  by  death  of  those  Avho  liad  so  long  and  faith- 
fully accompanied  them,  in  their  protracted  pilgrim- 
age. Frequently,  when  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  has  been 
seated  in  the  pulpit,  while  the  hymn  was  singing  be- 
fore the  sermon,  I  have  observed  the  slow  and  pensive 
turn  of  his  head,  from  one  part  to  another  of  the 
chapel,  succeeded  by  an  expression  of  sadness  on  his 
venerable  countenance.  His  hearers,  in  general, 
knew  not  the  cause  of  his  embarrassed  manner,  but 
he  would  afterwards  explain  it  to  those  who  dined  at 
his  table.  "  I  could  not  preach  this  morning  ;  my 
eye  glanced  on  the  places  so  long  occupied  by  my 
dear  old  friends,  now  filled  by  strangers. — Ah !  I 
must  soon  be  gone  myself;  Lord  help  me  to  serve 
him,  while  I  live."  On  Sunday,  December  13th, 
1818,  Mrs.  Hill  says,  in  a  letter  to  an  acquaintance, 
"  Mr.  Hill  preached,  both  morning  and  evening,  fu- 
neral sermons,  for  two  members  of  Surry  chapel ;  I 
trust  each  in  glory."     One  of  these  was  the  mother 


LETTER  TO  MRS.  B.  NEALE.  2G5 

of  his  friend,  Mr.  Benjamin  Neale ;  and  the  follow- 
ing letter  was  written  to  the  widow  of  that  gentle- 
man, on  the  death  of  her  aged  relative  : — 

Surry  chapel,  Monday  noon. 
My  DEAR  Madam, 

I  had  frequently  called  in  St.  Paul's  church- 
yard, to  inquire  after  our  dear  friend,  and  the  report 
was  such  as  left  me  no  hopes  that  she  could  long 
survive  ;  and  you  must  naturally  suppose  that  I  had 
heard  of  the  event,  before  your  [letter]  was  received. 
Alas !  almost  all  my  dear  friends  of  that  household,  that 
were  such  steady  and  honourable  friends  to  the  cause 
of  God  and  humanity  among  ns,  are  now  no  more. 
Such  has  been  his  sovereign  will,  who  doeth  all  things 
well.  When  the  Lord  visits  by  taking  away,  it  cer- 
tainly becomes  us  to  grieve  and  to  lament,  but  not  to 
despond,  while  the  residue  of  the  spirit  is  with  him 
that  can  restore  the  loss. 

Though  the  task  you  impose  upon  me  next  Sun- 
day morning  is  a  painful  one,  yet  it  is  a  favourable 
circumstance,  that  I  am  in  no  great  danger  of  saying 
more  than  I  should,  respecting  the  excellences  of  our 
dear  departed  friend. 

She  was  but  a  very  few  months  older  than  myself. 
How  soon  must  my  departure  be  now  at  hand :  and 
though  my  strength  has  been  hitherto  continued  be- 
yond expectation,  yet  O  for  grace  and  power  that 
my  few  remaining  days  may  be  more  than  ever  dedi- 
cated to  his  glory.  With  our  love  to  the  Daltons,  be- 
lieve me  to  be, 

Yours  very  sincerely  and  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

Mrs.  B.  Neale. 

Just  before  the  death  of  this  pious  and   valued 

Christian,  Mr.  Hill  says  of  her,  in  a  letter  to  Mr. 

Griifin,  of  Portsea,  "  Our  dear  old  friend,  Mrs.  Neale, 

is  nearly  exhausted  and  gone.     She  is  the  last  of  one 

23 


266  LETTER  TO  MR.  JONES. 

of  the  most  kind  and  affectionate  families  that  the  in- 
dulgent providence  of  God  sent  among  us  for  our 
credit  and  support.  How  many  of  my  friends  have  I 
been  permitted  to  outlive  !  How  soon  I  am  to  follow 
them  must  be  left  to  him  who  knows  our  appointed 
time ! 

In  the  year  1819,  just  before  his  usual  time  of  quit- 
ting London  for  his  residence  in  the  country,  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  was  walking  in  Surry  chapel,  and  not 
perceiving  that  a  trap-door  was  left  open  in  the  floor, 
he  fell  through  it,  and  severely  injured  his  leg.  Con- 
sidering his  age,  and  the  circumstances  of  his  fall,  it 
was  a  providential  escape  from  far  more  serious  conse- 
quences. He  mentions  to  Mr.  Jones,  in  the  following 
terms,  the  derangement  of  all  his  plans  by  the  unfor- 
tunate accident.  "  It  is  now  just  a  fortnight,  since  I 
have  been  called  to  smg  of  mercy  and  of  judgment. 
Of  mercy,  that  I  had  no  broken  bones  through  a 
dangerous  fall ;  of  judgment,  that  I  am  still  kept  a 
prisoner  at  home,  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  work- 
ing for  my  Master  ;  nor,  from  the  tardy  appearance 
of  the  healing  of  a  wound  on  my  leg,  do  I  Imow  when 
I  shall  be  released.  What  pleases  the  Lord,  often- 
times displeases  us  ;  and  yet  we  at  all  times  ought  to 
say,  whatever  is,  is  best.  If  we  could  but  get  more 
out  of  self,  the  hell  of  self,  and  live  more  in  God,  we 
shall  live  more  to  his  glory."  A  short  time  after,  he 
writes : — 

June  3d,  1819. 
My  dear  brother  Jones, 

I  thought  to  have  sent  you  another  letter  before 
now,  respecting  the  state  of  my  wounded  leg  ;  but  I 
have  waited,  that  I  might  inform  you  precisely,  when 
I  should  be  permitted  to  take  such  a  journey,  under 
the  pressure  of  such  a  wound,  till  I  can  wait  no 
longer.  Hitherto,  I  find  the  least  exertion  brmgs  on 
an  increased  inflammation,  which  throws  me  back. 
I  have  only  preached  once  for  these  six  weeks,  to  a 


SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION.  267 

small  congregation,  on  a  Friday  morning;  and  though 
I  sat  all  the  time,  I  was  supposed  to  be  the  worse  for 
it.  The  wound,  however,  this  day  begins  to  look 
more  favourable,  and  I  should  trust  my  confinement 
will  not  be  long.  I  should  hope,  at  farthest,  another 
week  or  ten  days  from  hence,  will  give  me  some 
hopes  of  a  release.  I  feel  as  much  for  you  as  I  can 
for  myself.  I  know,  you  will  soon  want  a  release, 
and  I  should  be  sorry  not  to  have  a  little  of  your 
company,  before  you  take  your  flight.  Here  I  am 
quite  useless  :  I  wish  to  be  doing,  though  it  is  but  a 
little.  O  that  we  may  be  anxious  to  work  while  we 
can.  The  more  we  have  to  do  for  God,  the  more 
we  shall  feel  the  need  of  living  near  to  God,  as  no- 
thing can  be  well  done  for  him,  but  what  is  done 
entirely  by  him.  If  all  our  works  are  not  begun, 
continued,  and  ended  in  God,  they  are  of  nothing 

worth. 

####         #»*♦ 

Love  to  all. 

Yours  affectionately, 

R.  HILL. 

It  has  been  well  remarked,  that  it  is  a  good  sign 
when  affliction  draws  us  near  to  God,  instead  of  dri- 
ving us  from  him.  This  was  eminently  the  case  vvith 
Mr.  Hill:  the  pressure  of  suffering  never  weighed  him 
down,  it  only  tried  and  proved  the  true  strength  of 
the  principles  by  which  he  was  upheld.  As  soon  as 
he  felt  a  Father's  rod,  he  acknowledged  the  chastise- 
ment as  a  correction  of  love,  and  endeavoured  to  im- 
prove by  it.  That  which  seemed  in  him,  at  times,  like 
impatience,  was  only  his  anxiety  to  be  again  at  work, 
from  which  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  he  could 
be  restrained.  In  one  of  the  many  letters  kindly  lent 
me  by  the  correspondents  of  my  excellent  relative,  I 
found  these  useful  remarks  on  the  benefit  of  trials. 
— "  We  are  made  up  of  sad,  thoughtless,  inattentive 
materials,  liable  to  be  allured  with  present  objects, 


268  HOLY  PATIENCE. 

more  than  we  should  be.  In  this  carnal  state,  we  are 
terribly  apt  to  be  carnally  minded,  and  this  generates 
death  to  the  soul.  To  have  a  life  hid  with  Christ  in 
God,  is  a  state  infinitely  beyond  that  which  human 
nature  can  ever  reach.  He  that  created  souls  alone  can 
re-create  them,  and  enable  us  to  live  above  ourselves 
and  above  the  world,  that  we  may  be  brought  into  a 
state  of  newness  to  God.  For  the  accomplishment  of 
this  sacred  purpose,  we  must  have  our  afflictions  on 
the  earth.  We  all  are  born  to  have  them  as  sinners, 
and,  when  born  again,  they  are  perpetually  needed  to 
bring  us  near  to  God :  and  as  we  are  prone  to  per- 
petual backslidings  and  revoltings,  arepetition  of  them 
is  equally  needed,  to  prevent  us  from  getting  wanton, 
careless,  and  secure.  Holy  patience  is  not  the  natu- 
ral growth  of  the  human  heart,  yet  in  that  frame  of 
mind,  we  can  alone  find  our  resting  place  in  a  trying 
hour  : — we  must  be  still,  that  we  may  know  the  Lord 
our  God." 

Nothing  was  more  remarkable  in  Mr.  Hill,  than  his 
keenness  in  discerning  the  varied  peculiarities  of  hu- 
man beings,  and  the  accuracy  with  which  he  discri- 
minated between  different  shades  of  character.  To 
the  humble  Christian,  he  was  all  tenderness  and  affec- 
tion, but  showed  little  mercy  to  those  given  to  hypo- 
crisy or  cant.  He  once  rebuked  an  antinomian  who 
was  addicted  to  drinking ;  when  the  man  asked  him 
impertinently — "Now  do  you  think,  Mr.  Hill,  a  glass 
of  spirits  will  drive  grace  out  of  my  heart  ?"  "  No," 
he  answered,  "  for  there  is  none  in  it."  When  per- 
sons who  had  obtained  pecuniary  advantages,  by  me- 
thods scarcely  consistent  with  the  holy  life  of  a 
Christian,  spoke  of  them  as  providential,  he  used  to 
observe — "Well,  you  may  think  it  was  Providence, 
but  say  no  more  to  me  about  that."  Writing  to  a 
friend,  connected  with  a  town  in  which  there  were 
many  antinomians  and  socinians,  Mr.  Hill  remarks-^ 
"What  between  the  black  frost  of  antinomianism, 
and  the  white  frost  of  socinianism,  no  wonder  that 


MR.  HILL  ON  A  MISSIONARY  TOUR.  269 

the  growth  of  spiritual  vegetation  is  so  corrupt  and 
starved.  Nothing  but  redemption  by  the  blood  and 
righteousness  of  Christ,  and  sanctification  by  the 
power  and  Spirit  of  Christ,  can  give  life  to  the  dead, 
and  make  the  wilderness  to  blossom  as  the  rose." 

January,  1820,  found  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  in  London, 
quite  recovered  from  the  injury  in  his  leg.  Writing 
to  Mr.  O.  P.  Wathen,  he  says,  in  a  letter  dated  the 
sixth  of  that  month — "  Through  the  mercy  of  God, 
we  both,  considering  what  antiques  we  are,  continue 
very  well,  and  we  should  be  abundantly  better  still,  if 
l)lest  with  that  spiritual  health  which  can  keep  the 
soul  alive  to  God."  Mr.  Hill  used  often  to  make 
preaching  excursions  in  the  spring,  for  the  benefit  of 
various  religious  societies.  About  this  time  he  came 
into  the  neighbourhood  of  Cambridge,  and  hearing 
that  he  was  to  preach  at  Royston,  a  village  about  ten 
miles  from  the  University,  I  went  there  to  meet  him. 
It  wanted  little  more,  when  I  arrived,  than  an  hour  to 
the  time  fixed  for  the  sermon;  the  place  of  worship 
had  long  been  filled  with  a  dense  crowd,  and  numbers 
were  watching  for  him,  on  the  road  by  which  he  was 
expected  to  enter  the  town.  Presently,  a  chaise  drove 
up  at  a  rapid  pace,  containing  Mr.  Hill  and  his  friend, 
Mr.  Burder,  the  former  of  whom,  the  instant  he  re- 
cognised me.  desired  the  post-boy  to  stop,  and  I  went 
with  him  to  the  house  where  he  was  to  be  set  down. 
After  a  few  minutes'  conversation,  he  accepted  an 
offer  made  him  of  a  room  to  himself,  till  summoned 
to  the  pulpit,  and  those  who  supposed  his  object  was 
to  arrange  his  ideas  for  the  sermon,  were  surprised 
that  he  invited  me  to  go  with  him.  When  we  were 
alone,  he  inquired  anxiously  about  the  religious  state 
of  the  University,  and  talked  of  various  other  mat- 
ters, till  it  wanted  only  ten  minutes  to  the  time  for 
calling  him  into  the  chapel,  where  Mr.  Burder  had  be- 
gun the  service.  I  said,  "Sir,  I  shall  most  assuredly 
not  hear  you  to-day,  for  it  is  impossible  to  get  into  the 
place,  which  is  already  overflowins".  so  please  to  tell 
23* 


270  LETTER  TO  MR.  JONES. 

me  what  text  you  are  going  to  preach  from."  "  That 
is  more  than  I  know  myself,"  he  rephed,  and  began 
turning  over  the  leaves  of  an  old  bible  on  the  table. 
Before  he  had  completed  his  search,  somebody  enter- 
ed to  inform  him  it  was  time  to  go.  "Sidney,"  said 
he,  "catch  hold  of  the  back  of  my  gown,  and  we  will 
squeeze  in," — and  a  squeeze  indeed  we  found  it. 
When  he  was  in  the  pulpit,  I  observed  he  still  turned 
the  leaves  of  the  bible  ;  but  at  length  he  stopped,  to 
give  out  for  his  text  the  words  of  Isaiah,  xliii.  21 :  This 
people  have  I  formed  for  myself ;  they  shall  show 
forth  my  praise  ;  and  I  certainly  never  heard  him 
preach  better,  on  the  necessity  of  evidencing  the 
power  of  the  grace  of  God  in  the  heart,  by  a  life  of 
dedication  to  his  glory.  This  was  only  one  of  the 
many  times  I  perceived,  that  he  left  the  selection  of 
his  text  to  the  very  last  moment. 

After  labouring  as  usual  in  London  and  at  Wotton, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  made,  in  the  autumn  of  1820,  a 
long  preaching  expedition  ;  during  which  he  wrote 
the  following  characteristic  letter  to  Mr.  Jones  : — 

Manchester^  August  22nd\  1820. 

My  dear  BROTHER  JoNES, 

By  now  I  suppose  you  are  again  settled,  after  your 
Welch  ramble,  at  Wotton  :  may  the  seed  sown  meet 
with  a  divine  increase  !  We  do  nothing  ;  God  must 
do  every  thing.  Old  as  I  am,  I  am  well  worked 
wherever  I  go.  The  congregations  are  every  where 
astonishing  ;  sometimes,   for   want  of  room,  I   am 

obliged  to  turn  out  in  the  open  air At 

times,  I  trust,  the  power  of  God  is  felt  among  us  ;  if 
we  think  we  can  do  without  him.  we  may  depend  upon 
it  he  will  do  nothing  by  us.  He  will,  and  he  ought  to 
have  all  the  glory.  I  hate  dry,  doctrinal  preaching, 
without  warm,  affectionate,  and  experimental  applica- 
tions. When  we  feel  what  we  are  at,  others  will  feel 
too  ;  but  when  our  own  sham  feelings  are  substitu- 
ted in  the  room  of  real  ones,  the  people  will  soon  de- 


LETTER  TO  MR.  JONES.  271 

tect  US,  while  this  false  fire  will  not  communicate  any 
real  warmth  to  the  heart.  It  is  poor  work  to  attempt 
to  move  the  mere  passions  of  others,  but  as  our  own 
hearts  are  divinely  influenced  by  that  power  which 
is  from  above.  I  fear  you  have  felt  much  from  the 
misconduct  of  some  during  your  absence.  You  will 
be  informed  how  we  were  constrained  to  act  towards 
them.  What  wisdom,  fidelity,  and  prudence,  are 
necessary  in  the  management  of  the  Christian 
church  ! 

I  can,  however,  tell  you  of  another  event,  which,  if 
accomplished,  may  prove  a  great  blessing  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood. Mr. ,  Mr. 's  son-in-law,  has  de- 
termined to  wind  up  all  his  mercantile  concerns,  and 
be  a  resident  in  our  neighbourhood;  and  by  what  he 
says,  the  nearer  he  can  be  to  us,  the  better  he  will 
like  it.  He  means  not  to  take  a  settled  charge,  but 
to  give  his  unsettled  aid,  wherever  it  may  be  needed. 
1  mention  this,  that  we  may  be  on  the  look  out.  He 
is  much  beloved  by  all  who  know  him. 

It  is  my  design  to  see  Wotton  again,  with  tlie  Lord's 
leave,  some  time  before  the  second  sabbath  in  Sep- 
tember, in  order  to  prepare  for  a  missionary  meeting 
in  our  town ;  though,  I  fear,  we  may  have  some  dry 
doings  among  us,  through  the  stiftness  of  some  who 
may  have  the  settlement  of  that  work. 

Will  you  tell  John,  the  gardener,  that  he  must  take 
some  opportunity  to  bring  some  loads  of  stone  from 

the  neighbourhood  of  Mr. 's  mill,  which  is  ver}'^ 

hard  and  good.  This  must  be  broken  very  very 
small ;  though,  perhaps,  the  road  had  better  not  be 
relaid  till  nearer  the  winter  season.  Will  you  tell  him, 
at  the  same  time, also  to  gather  the  laven- 
der as  it  gets  ripe,  and  some  of  the  ripest  of  the  balm 
of  Gilead.  You  must  also  give  my  love  to  all  the 
people,  requesting  their  prayers,  that  I  may  not  be  per- 
mitted to  sufter  spiritual  decline  in  my  declining  days ; 
and  may  you.  my  dear  brother,  have  that  faith  and 
love  which  the  Holy  Ghost  can  alone  create  in  our 


272  LETTER  TO  MR.  JONES. 

hearts;  grow  in  grace  exceedingly;  and,  while  you  can 
slay  your  tens  of  thousands,  and  I  my  thousands  only, 
go  on  and  prosper,  [and,]  I  trust,  I  shall  heartily  re- 
joice in  your  success.     Never  doubt  but  that  I  am 
Your  ever  affectionate  brother, 

R.  HILL. 

From  Manchester,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  went  to  pay  a 
visit  to  his  relations  in  Shropshire,  by  whom  he  was 
received  with  the  utmost  kindness  and  affection,  and 
was  invited  to  preach  in  some  churches,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  family  residence.  Mrs.  Hill  notices 
this  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jones,  in  which  she  informs 
him,  that  they  shall  not  return  to  Wotton  as  soon  as 
they  expected,  on  account  of  the  pressing  invitation 
they  had  received  to  prolong  their  stay.  She  says — 
"  Mr.  Hill  preached  at  Stanton  church  last  evening, 
and  to-day  at  the  chapel,  where  the  family  attend. 
Next  Sunday  [he  is  to  preach]  in  a  church  at  Wel- 
lington. How  can  he  ever  bear,"  she  adds,  jocosely, 
"  to  preach  at  such  a  poor  place  as  Wotton  Taberna- 
cle aofain,  after  beinij  such  a  churchman  !"  Indeed, 
as  has  been  before  mentioned,  nothing  gave  him  such 
unfeigned  delight  as  being  offered  a  pulpit  in  the  es- 
tablishment. It  would,  at  any  time,  induce  him  to 
alter  his  unimportant  arrangements,  and  cause  him 
to  prolong  his  stay,  in  whatever  neighbourhood  such 
an  attraction  occurred. 

It  is  well  known,  that  numbers  of  poor  people  are 
kept  away  from  the  worship  of  God  on  the  sabbath, 
by  their  inability  to  make  a  decent  appearance  ;  and 
the  attention  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  dra\vn  towards 
the  best  mode  of  supplying  them  with  the  requisite 
clothing.  This  he  communicated  in  a  letter  to  his 
truly  generous  friend,  Mr.  John  Broadley  Wilson. 

Wotton,  November  16th,  1820. 
My  dear  Sir, 

Our  good  friends  at  Surry  chapel,  and  others,  have 


LETTER  TO  A  YOUNG  MINISTER.  273 

a  design  of  extending  the  plan  of  religious  instruc- 
tion among  the  poor,  by  seeking  after  some  of  the 
lower  classes,  whose  want  of  decent  clothing  pre- 
vents their  attendance.  It  is  therefore  designed  to 
lend  them  a  sort  of  Sunday  livery  for  that  purpose, 
under  a  supposition,  that  by  giving  them  a  taste  for 
profitable  instruction,  they  may  be  roused  from  their 
degraded  state. 

It  is  therefore  in  contemplation,  to  convene  a  pub- 
lic meeting  for  that  purpose,  some  time  after  the  28th 
of  this  month,  while  it  is  concluded  the  most  eligible 
spot  for  such  a  meeting  would  be  the  boy's  school  be- 
longing to  the  British  and  Foreign  School  Society, 
Borough-road,  and  you,  being  one  of  the  committee 
belonging  to  that  institution,  are  requested  to  forward 
the  application. 

With  most  affectionate  respects  to  yourself  and 
Mrs.  Wilson,  believe  me  to  be, 
My  dear  Sir, 

Most  sincerely  and  gratefully  yours, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

I  will  conclude  this  chapter  with  a  letter  written  by 
Mr.  Hill  to  a  very  pious  and  amiable  young  minister, 
whose  sickness,  alluded  to  in  it,  terminated  fatally.* 

My  dear  young  friend, 

A  letter,  received  yesterday  from  Mrs.  Neale,  in- 
forms me  of  the  painful  situation  of  your  health;  and 
I  am  grieved  to  hear,  that  at  least  for  the  present,  you 
are  obliged  to  leave  your  sphere  of  usefulness  at  Ex- 
eter, and  to  seek  your  native  air  for  the  recovery  of 
your  health.  The  Lord's  ways  are  frequently  in  the 
deep.  Let  us  still  hope  that  the  present  dispensation 
is  only  designed  to  deepen  your  humility,  to  brighten 
your  zeal,  and  enrich  your  experience  in  the  divine 

♦  The  person  addressed  in  this  letter  weis  the  son  of  the  Rev. 
John  Griffin,  of  Portsea,  a  memoir  of  whom  was  written  and  pub- 
lished by  his  bereaved  father. 


274  LETTER  TO  A  YOUNG  MINISTER. 

life  ;  and  that  you  will  be  better  taught  to  teach,  by 
being  tutored  in  the  furnace  of  affliction — the'better  to 
serve  in  the  sacred  cause  in  which  you  are  engaged. 
Pure  metals  shine  the  brighter  the  harder  they  are 
rubbed.  The  Lord  alone  can  prepare  our  hearts  to 
receive  that  splendour  of  light,  v/hereby  we  are  enabled 
to  shine  forth  to  his  glory.  If  sharp  trials  are  neces- 
sary for  the  accomplishment  of  this  glorious  end,  what 
a  mercy  from  God  when  he  sends  them !  Still,  when 
such  as  are  likely  to  be  useful  are  oast  aside,  it  appears 
like  a  judgment  we  ought  to  lament — "  Help,  Lord, 
for  the  godly  man  ceaseth."  While  it  is  a  great 
mercy  to  live  to  be  useful,  yet  it  is  our  greatest  curse, 
to  be  cumberers  of  the  ground  ;  and  when  such  cum- 
berers  intrude  themselves  into  the  ministry  of  the 
word,  they  provo  the  greatest  curse  to  the  living 
church  of  Christ.  May  you  be  deeply  sensible,  how 
much  of  the  life  and  power  of  God  is  needed  upon 
your  soul,  to  make  you  an  able  minister  of  the  New 
Testament,  "  not  of  the  letter,  but  of  the  Spirit,  whose 
praise  is  not  of  man  but  of  God."  May  your  life  be 
granted  for  this  purpose,  and  for  this  alone. 

*********** 

I  am  still,  through  mercy,  willing  to  work  as  long 
as  I  can,  and  as  hard  as  I  can.  It  is  a  mercy  to  be 
"  steadfast,  unmoveable,  always  abounding  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord,"  and  then  the  next  word  sounds  like  a 
gracious  promise,  our  "  labour  shall  not  be  in  vain  in 
the  Lord." 

With  very  kind  love  to  your  father  and  to  your  new 
mother,  who,  I  am  told,  is  a  very  excellent  woman, 
believe  me  to  be, 

Your  very  affectionate 

ROWLAND  HILL. 


THE  SOCIETY  AT  SURRY  CHAPEL.  275 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  SOCIETY  AT  SURRY  CHAPEL. 

I  HAVE  already  mentioned  the  importance  attached 
by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  a  species  of  improving  inter- 
course, between  himself  and  the  communicants  at 
Surry  chapel,  called  "Meeting  the  Society."  His  views 
upon  this  subject  will  be  further  gathered,  from  the 
notice  he  takes  of  it  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jones,  who  was 
about  to  supply  his  place  there  for  a  few  Sundays. 
"  I  hope  you  will  find  meeting  the  society,  on  a  Mon- 
day eve,  pleasant  to  your  mind.  I  generally  speak  to 
all  fresh  communicants,  first  in  private,  after  having 
received  a  sufficient  account,  as  far  as  it  can  be  ob- 
tained among  such  a  wilderness  of  people,  and  next  en- 
courage them  to  relate  their  experience  to  their  fellow- 
communicants.  But,  if  diffidence  forbids  them,  I 
speak  for  them,  and  tell  before  their  faces  what  they 
have  previously  told  me.  I  have  oftentimes  found 
that  the  most  modest  have  proved  amongst  the  best ; 
but  it  is  difficult  to  act  in  London,  as  in  the  country, 
where  people  are  most  easily  known.  I  always  call 
upon  one  of  the  brethren  to  introduce  that  service  with 
prayer,  and  sometimes  request  another  to  conclude. 
Poor is  as  dry  as  a  stick.  When  strangers  at- 
tend at  Surry  chapel,  such  ministers  as  do  not  like  our 
sort  of  church  government,  make  it  more  like  a  public 
preaching  than  a  society  meeting.  This  I  do  not  like, 
but  we  cannot  have  everything  just  as  we  like.  When 
I  am  in  town,  I  give  them  to  understand  that  meeting 
is  only  for  the  communicants.  I  drop  these  hints;  I 
wish  you  may  improve  upon  the  plan." 

An  aged  and  experienced  minister's  views  of  the 


276  LETTER  TO  THE  AUTHOR. 

nature  of  his  own  office  are  always  valuable,  and 
therefore,  I  feel  assured  a  letter  to  me,  when  I  was 
first  ordained,  will  not  be  considered  an  unnecessary 
addition  to  what  has  been  already  given  on  the  same 
subject. 

Wotton,  July  26/A,  1821. 
My  dear  Sidney, 

I  am  ashamed  I  have  not  written  to  you  since 
you  have  been  Revd.  I  had  been  meditating  upon 
a  long  letter  to  you,  such  as  a  primitive  bishop 
should  write  to  one  just  set  off  in  the  sacred  work  to 
which  you  have  been  called ;  but  when  I  cannot  write 
as  I  should,  I  do  not  like  to  write  at  oil.  Still  for  a 
few  words.  No  real  good  can  be  expected,  even  from 
the  private  Christian,  where  the  ground-work  of  reli- 
gion is  wanting — Regeneration.  As  well  may  you 
pretend  to  know  what  were  the  real  transactions  of 
life  before  you  were  born,  as  to  know  any  thing  of  real 
religion,  which  is  nothing  less  than  the  life  of  God  in 
the  souls  of  men,  till  after  you  are  born  again.  By 
that  alone  we  feel  sin  to  be  hateful,  and,  as  we  feel 
against  it,  we  shall  be  able  to  preach  feelingly  against 
it.  This  begets  genuine  repentance,  the  harbinger  of 
all  future  good.  The  Lord  Jesus  sent  his  harbinger, 
John  the  Baptist,  to  urge  this,  his  first  message,  home 
to  the  heart.  A  young  minister,  if  the  Lord  designs 
to  bless  him,  will  begin  with  the  law,  charging  the  sin- 
ful violations  of  it  home  to  the  conscience,  in  a  bold 
and  fearless,  but  still  in  a  tender  and  compassionate 
spirit.  The  law,  not  that  neutralized  modern  stuff, 
that  some  call  morality,  but  that  infinitely  holy  and 
pure  law,  which  is  the  exact  transcript  of  the  image  of 
God  himself,  before  the  sound  of  which  every  mouth 
must  be  stopped,  "  and  all  the  world  become  guilty 
before  God,  for  tbat  all  bave  sinned,  and  come  short 
of  the  glory  of  God."  And,  till  sinners  feel  the  justice 
of  this  law,  and  own  their  guilt  as  transgressors,  though 
the  gospel  may  be  admitted  in  theory,  yet  it  never  can 


LETTER  TO  THE  AUTHOR.  277 

be  admitted  as  the  power  of  God  to  the  salvation  of 
the  soul,  or  felt  as  such  in  its  transforming  influences, 
in  making  us  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Till  this  divine  influence  be  duly  felt,  every  young 
minister,  especially  if  he  be  of  a  captivating  turn  of 
mind,  is  in  perpetual  danger  of  being  captivated  and 
ensnared  by  the  world.  When  this  begins  to  take 
place,  he  will  first  attempt  the  impossibility  of  serving 
God  and  mammon  at  the  same  time.  When  he  has 
proved  the  impracticability  of  such  an  effort,  he  will 
give  himself  up  to  the  service  of  mammon  altogether. 
If  you  wish  to  gain  a  character  as  a  minister  of  the 
word  of  life,  you  must  first  lose  it  entirely  in  the  es- 
teem of  the  world,  and  then  gain  it,  by  your  upright 
and  holy  zeal,  by  your  complete  deadness  to  the  world, 
that  you  may  give  yourself  wholly  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  spend  and  be  spent  in  the  sacred  cause. 
Half-way  work  is  odious  in  every  profession,  but  in 
the  work  of  God,  most  abominable.  Such  as  honour 
Christ  shall  be  honoured  by  him.  You  have  sufficient 
knowledge  of  the  Gospel,  to  know  that  it  is  a  glorious 
gospel,  while  the  thin,  meagre  religion  of  the  world 
is  beneath  contempt. 

Though  you  seem  to  have  set  sail  under  the  auspi- 
ces of  a  prosperous  gale,  yet  storms  and  tempests  may 
soon  await  you ;  and,  when  needed,  the  Lord  will 
send  them. 


Satan  cannot  break  his  chain,  and  the  bolder  you  are, 
if  tempered  with  wisdom  from  above,  the  more  timid 
will  your  enemies  be.  Mind  this  passage — go  beyond 
it  if  you  can — •'  Be  you  steadfast,  unmoveable,  always 
abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  you 
know  your  labour  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 
Mrs.  N.,  now  with  us,  has  this  day  received  a  letter 
from  your  late  tutor,  Mr.  N.  It  is  surprising  what  a 
glorious  change  has  passed  upon  his  mind.  O  my 
dear  youth,  pray  for  a  well  grounded  assurance,  that 
24 


278  NUMEROUS  ENGAGEMENTS. 

a  power  as  glorious  has  been,  m.  very  deed,  com- 
municated to  your  mind,  as  the  only  genuine  evi- 
dence that  you  were  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  to  take  upoil  you  that  most  sacred  office  you 
have  been  called  to  fill !  O  that  you  may  be  filled 
with  all  that  high  spirituality  Mr.  Neale  71010  evident- 
ly and  eminently  possesses,  with  your  own  natural 
animation  and  vivacity  of  spirit. 


■  But  just  room  for 

Yours  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

In  a  subsequent  letter  to  me,  on  the  same  subject, 
he  remarks,  '•  No  eminent  blessing  attends  such  as  do 
not  labour  to  be  blest ;  while  such  as  are  favoured 
with  a  sound  head,  a  warm  heart,  and  a  bible  creed, 
carry  all  before  them." 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  memoranda  of  ensfagements, 
in  his  interleaved  Almanac  of  1821,  are  more  nu- 
merous than  ever,  both  as  to  causes  supported  by 
him,  and  places  of  preaching.  He  thought  nothing 
of  six  or  seven  sermons  a  week,  besides  meeting 
his  people  and  attending  to  the  business  of  societies 
for  benevolent  or  religious  objects ;  and,  although  he 
occasionally  complained  of  languor,  his  spirits  never 
failed  him,  nor  did  his  mind  appear  in  the  slightest 
degree  overworked.  He  seemed,  however,  to  be  im- 
pressed with  perpetually  increasing  convictions,  as  to 
the  solemnity  and  importance  of  his  sacred  office. 
His  words,  in  a  letter,  are,  "  O  for  more  of  the  Spirit 
to  make  us  preach  spiritually  !  By  the  aid  of  our 
bibles  and  good  books,  we  may  collect  good  materials 
together;  but,  unless  the  Lord  himself  sends  down  the 
celestial  fire,  there  can  be  neither  light  nor  warmth 
from  the  very  best  of  these  dead  materials.  Jesus, 
the  Lord  and  giver  of  life,  keeps  all  in  his  own 
hands,   to  keep  our  souls  dependent  on  himself." 


MISSIONARY  JOURNEY.  '279 

Speaking  of  a  young  baptist  preacher,  whose  ser- 
mons were  full  of  dry  theology,  with  little  or  no  unc- 
tion, he  called  him — "  A  sprig  of  made-up  divinity, 
from  a  cold  water  academy." 

The  undiminished  willingness  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
to  labour,  in  his  old  age,  will  be  seen  by  the  account 
the  following  extract  from  a  letter,  dated  January  23d, 
1822,  gives  of  his  probable  acquiescence  in  an  arduous 
journey  for  the  London  Missionary  Society : — "  The 
Missionary  Society  is  sinking  for  want  of  support ; 
they  have  astonishing  openings  before  them,  for  which 
astonishing  exertions  must  be  made.  Now,  they  tell 
me,  no  minister  that  travels  to  beg  for  them,  puts 
them  to  less  expense,  and  gets  so  much  money  for 
them  [as  I  do]  when  I  can  take  a  journey  for  them. 
And  now  you  shall  hear  the  plan  they  have  designed 
for  an  old  man,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age.  I  am  to 
set  otf  from  hence  directly  after  the  missionary  meet- 
ing, Monday,  the  13th  May,  and  then  travel  quite  up 
as  far  as  York,  200  miles  from  hence,  taking  Lincoln, 
Hull,  and  several  other  large  towns,  in  my  way  thither, 
and  on  my  return."  After  some  other  observations, 
relative  to  the  alteration  this  plan  must  make  in  his 
usual  movements,  he  adds,  "  Though,  at  my  time  of 
life,  I  should  rather  seek  after  rest  than  attempt  such 
extraordinary  labours,  yet,  may  it  be  spoken  with  hu- 
mility, it  cannot  be  denied  that  these  latter  itinerations 
of  my  ministry  have  been  attended  with  abundant  in- 
dications of  the  power  of  God  to  the  souls  of  men, 
and  have  proved  times  of  general  refreshment  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord." 

A  return  of  inflammation  in  Mr.  Hill's  eye  caused 
the  postponement  of  this  journey  to  the  lOtli  of  June, 
and,  by  his  own  memoranda,  it  appears  that  he  preach- 
ed every  day  from  that  time  till  the  11th  of  July. 
The  conoTecrations  and  collections  were  immense,  but 
the  undertaking  was  too  much  for  his  strength ;  and 
daily  preaching,  in  very  hot  weather,  brought  on  a 
complaint  which  weakened  and  depressed  him.     At 


280  EASTERN  TOUR. 

the  end  of  a  letter  he  notices  this  effect  of  such  exer- 
tions in  his  own  brief  manner :  "  0  how  hard  I  have 
been  worked.  Thonsands  attend  field-preaching-.  Fre- 
quently almost  tired.  Still  I  am  upheld,  though  1 
was  seriously  ill." 

This  year  Mr.  Hill  manifested  his  attachment  to 
the  establishment,  by  an  act  of  the  most  creditable 
liberality.  A  clergyman,  whose  religious  views  cor- 
responded with  his  own,  became  curate  of  the  church 
at  Wotton,  when  he  immediately  ordered  his  chapel  to 
be  shut  up  in  an  afternoon,  desired  his  congregation 
to  go  to  church,  and  himself  set  them  the  example. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  made  an  eastern 
tour,  for  the  benefit  of  the  London  Missionary  Soci- 
ety, visiting  Norwich,  Yarmouth,  and  Bury  St.  Ed- 
mund's. He  had  not  been  in  the  latter  place  for 
nearly  half  a  century,  always  refusing  to  go  there,  as 
if  oppressed  by  the  painful  recollection  of  violent 
persecution  from  the  world,  and  coolness  in  profes- 
sors of  religion,  he  had  experienced  fifty  years  before 
in  that  town.  He  now  met  with  the  kindest  possible 
reception,  but  appeared  under  most  solemn  impres- 
sions. When  he  saw  vehicles  of  all  descriptions 
coming  in,  filled  with  those  who  were  flocking  to  hear 
him,  he  exclaimed  several  times — "  What  shall  I  do, 
a  poor,  sinful,  unworthy  creature,  how  shall  I  preach 
to  this  people  ?"  A  gentleman  remarked—"  I  am 
surprised,  sir,  that  you  should  be  so  much  agitated ; 
I  could  never  have  supposed  that  you  felt  in  this 
way  ;"  to  which  Mr.  Hill  replied — "  I  always  feel  a 
great  deal  before  I  preach,  but  I  am  unusually  agita- 
ted to-night."  The  place  in  which  he  was  to  preach 
could  not  contain  near  all  who  thronged  for  ad- 
mission ;  hundreds  stood  without  the  walls,  and  the 
crowd  seemed  to  increase  his  excitement,  A  person 
present  says — "  He  gave  out  his  text,  laying  a  pecu- 
liar emphasis  on  the  first  word.  Ask  of  me  and  1 
will  give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  and 
the  uttermost  jiarts  of  the  earth  for  thy  possessiori : 


EURY  ST.  Edmund's.  281 

Ps.  ii.  8.  In  the  course  of  his  sermon,  he  spoke  most 
afFectingly  of  the  state  and  extent  of  the  Redeemer's 
possession — the  whole  heathen  world.  The  ground 
of  the  Redeemer's  plea — in  which  he  illustrated  the 
connexion  between  the  dignity  of  his  person  and  the 
merits*  of  his  death  ;  and  in  the  most  striking  man- 
ner, he  finally  set  forth  the  certainty  of  the  fulfilment 
of  the  text,  as  the  Father's  promise  and  the  Redeem- 
er's plea.  In  the  whole  discourse,  there  was  an 
elevated  and  sublime  range  of  ideas,  and  a  simplicity 
and  majesty  of  language,  which  arrested  the  atten- 
tion and  astonished  the  minds  of  the  whole  audience. 
The  part  of  the  application,  in  which  he  appealed  to 
his  hearers  on  attending  to  the  duty,  and  cultivating 
the  spirit  of  prayer,  in  imitation  of  Christ,  will  never 
be  forgotten."  As  Mr,  Rowland  Hill  came  dowm 
from  the  pulpit,  he  took  Mr.  Dewhirst,  the  worthy 
minister  of  the  chapel,  by  the  hand,  and,  bursting 
into  tears,  said — "  Good  Mr.  Dewhirst,  O  that  I  could 
be  more  useful  to  souls  the  little  time  I  have  to  live  !" 
His  prayer  on  this  occasion  was  answered,  by  the 
conversion  of  some,  and  the  excitement  of  a  more 
ardent  devotion  in  others.  So  delighted  were  the 
people  of  Bury  with  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  sermon,  that 
they  pressed  him,  in  the  spring  of  1822,  to  return  to 
them  once  more,  but  he  was  unable  to  accept  the 
invitation.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Dewhirst  on  the  sub- 
ject, he  says — "  What  a  kind  set  of  people  you  must 
have  with  you  at  Bury,  to  make  so  much  of  the 
poor  defective  services  you  had  from  me.  How  true 
it  must  be,  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  is  not 
of  man,  but  from  the  Lord  alone ;  and  the  more  we 
are  enabled  to  depend  on  him,  the  more  he  will  hon- 
our that  dependence,  by  a  glorious  manifestation  of  it 
to  the  souls  of  men  ;  and  the  more  we  watch  the 

*  Mr.  Hill  generally  chose  the  phrase,  the  <z<owe772e7i<  of  Christ's 
death — "  Merits"  he  said  to  me  one  day,  "  is  commonly  used,  but 
it  conveys  only  a  thin  idea  of  reconciliation  to  God  through  the 
death  of  his  Son — atonement  (once  separated  from  God  by  sin, 
now  at  cm€  again) — atonement  is  the  word  I  like." 

24* 


282  ACCIDENT  TO  MR.  HILL. 

progress  of  that  grace,  the  more  we  shall  see  how  lit- 
tle the  great  head  of  the  church  regards  those  human 
distinctions,  among  the  dilferent  churches  of  Christ, 
and  the  nearer  shall  we  be  united  to  each  other,  for 
our  mutual  good.  When  the  gospel  comes  not  in 
word  only,  but  in  power,  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in 
much  assurance,  that  sets  all  right;  and  then,  with 
one  heart  and  one  mind,  we  can  all  glorify  God  as 
one.  If  a  spirit  of  bigotry  has  set  us  snarling  at  each 
other,  this  powerful  influence  drives  it  all  away :  the 
blessed  union  created  thereby  makes  hell  tremble, 
while  all  hands  are  strengthened." 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  after  his  labours  in  the  country 
in  1S22,  was  just  on  the  eve  of  departure  to  London, 
when  he  had  the  misfortune  to  be  seriously  bruised, 
and  to  break  one  of  his  ribs  by  an  accident.  He  pre- 
vailed, on  Mr.  Jones  to  go  immediately  and  supply  his 
place  at  Surry  chapel,  till  he  should  recover ;  and  on 
feeling  himself  a  little  better,  he  wrote  to  him  in  the 
following  tenns: — 

My  dear  brother  Jones, 

Soon  after  you  left  us,  I  felt  myself  more  severely 
and  universally  injured  than  I  at  first  supposed.  The 
fractured  rib  is  frequently  the  cause  of  much  pain. 
The  accumulation  of  phlegm  occasionally  creates  a 
cough,  [and]  the  pain  I  then  feel  is  excessive.  O  for 
patience  to  prove  the  event.  This  is  the  first  time  I 
have  attempted  to  use  the  pen,  though  my  right  arm 
and  shoulder  are  so  exceedingly  shaken,  thaf  it  is  as 
much  as  I  can  accomplish  to  lift  my  arm  to  the  table, 
so  as  to  hold  my  pen.  In  short,  wherever  I  am  pla- 
ced, there  I  must  continue,  but  as  I  borrow  the  strength 
of  others  to  be  removed  from  place  to  place,  though  I 
seem  to  be  a  shade  better  since  yesterday.  I  conceive 
it  necessary  to  be  thus  particular,  that  future  supplies 
may  be  properly  considered.  When  the  calamity 
first  happened,  I  conceived  I  might  be  able  just  to 
creep  towards  the  pulpit,  and  deliver  somewhat  like 


ACCIDENT  TO  MR.  HILL.  283 

an  apology  for  a  sermon.  Under  this  impression,  I 
advised  you  to  go  to  London ;  but  as  matters  are,  it 
might  have  been  best  had  you  continued  on  the  spot. 
You  know  what  a  miserable  shift  we  are,  on  such  oc- 
casions, obliged  to  make.     Mr. will  be  with  us 

on  sabbath  morning  (to-morrow)  and in  the  eve  ; 

and,  on  the  sabbath  afterwards,  we  must  contrive  such 
another  patch.  As,  therefore,  the  people  in  London 
may  help  themselves  a  little  better  than  we  can  do  at 
this  place,  the  sooner  you  return  the  better.  Still,  it 
occurs  to  my  mind,  that  if  between  this  and  a  fortnight 
hence,  I  should  be  so  far  restored,  as  that  I  could 
preach  two  half  sermons,  and  procure  others  to  read 
and  pray,  such  a  service  would  be  better  accepted, 
than  what  could  be  obtained  from  the  generahty  of 
our  supplies.  Of  this  you  shall  have  timely  notice ; 
and  after  that  I  should  remove  slowly  to  town,  and 
you  would  return  to  your  winter  post,  where  all  will 
be  most  affectionately  glad  to  see  you.  I  am  tired  of 
writing.     Love  to  all. 

Yours  affectionatelv. 

ROWLAND  HILL. 
Thf/  will  be  done. 

On  all  these  occasions,  Mr.  Hill's  anxiety  was 
more  for  the  good  and  comfort  of  others  than  for 
himself.  On  hearing  of  his  accident,  I  immediately 
begged  that  every  information  might  be  sent  me  as  to 
the  prospects  and  progress  of  his  recovery,  about 
which  I  naturally  felt  most  deeply  anxious.  To  a 
long  and  kind  letter  from  Mrs.  Hill  on  the  subject, 
he  added  a  postscript  in  these  words — "  Yes,  through 
the  mercy  of  God,  I  am  abundantly  better,  though 
Mill,  when  in  bed,  I  cannot  turn,  but  as  I  am  turned. 
O  that  I  may  be  able  to  spend  the  very,  very  few 
remainder  of  my  days  to  his  glory,  by  whom  I  have 
hitherto  been  kept.  But  you  say  nothing  about 
yourself. 


284  HIS  RECOVERY. 

When  you  come,  I  shall  do  my  best  to  prove  that  I 
am 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

Mr.  Hill  recovered  with  astonishing  rapidity,  and 
commenced  the  year  1823  with,  if  we  may  judge  from 
his  notes  of  engagements,  more  activity  than  ever. 
It  was  a  rare  occurrence  indeed  for  him  to  name  the 
day.  while  in  London,  which  he  could  call  his  own. 
The  more  he  had  to  do,  the  happier  he  appeared ; 
and,  though  increasing  years  brought  with  them  a, 
sense  of  diminished  strength,  his  desire  to  work  never 
decreased.  This  is  shown  by  his  own  written  re- 
mark— "  Through  the  mercy  of  God,  my  will  for 
labour  is  where  it  was,  but  my  ability  begins  to  fail. 
I  look  upon  myself  to  have  been  most  mercifully  fa- 
voured throuofh  life,  and  wish  to  meet  mv  declinino- 
days  with  lioly  calmness  and  resignation  to  my  hea- 
venly Father's  will.  May  he  increase  spirituality 
where  he  denies  strength,  and  bless  me  with  a  more 
abundant  influence  of  his  grace  and  spirit  in  my  de- 
clining days."  After  a  season  of  great  activity  in 
London,  and  what  always  seemed  to  renew  his  ener- 
gies, an  excellent  missionary  collection  at  Surry 
chapel,  amounting  to  £425,  he  went  to  Wotton, 
preaching,  as  was  his  custom,  every  evening  except 
the  Saturday?-,  at  places  on  his  journey,  which  he 
usually  made  last  the  week.  He  travelled  with  his 
■  own  horses  by  easy  stages,  and  was  looked  for  with 
the  most  anxious  expectation  wherever  a  sermon 
from  him  was  announced.  Nothing  escaped  him  on 
the  road,  and  his  remarks  were  generally  extremely 
pointed  and  entertaining.  I  remember  once  being 
with  him  on  a  journey  in  the  West  of  England,  which 
he  enlivened  all  the  way  by  his  animated  observa- 
tions ;  at  length  we  passed  a  chapel,  belonging  to  a 
sect  in  no  great  favour  with  him,  on  the  front  of  which 
was  a  large  board,  with  an  inscription,  indicating  to 


MR.  HILL  IN  TRAVELLING. 


285 


what  party  it  belonged.  Looking  up  quickly,  he  said 
— "  What's  that  ?"  and  on  my  reading  it,  observed, 
with  his  drollest  expression  of  countenance — "  They 
had  better  do  like  the  old  washerwomen,  who  put  up 
over  their  doors — Mangling  done  hereP 

After  the  accustomed  enjoyments  of  his  lovely 
place  in  Gloucestershire,  ming-led  with  his  usual  quan- 
tity of  labour.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  proceeded,  in  the 
autumn  of  1823,  on  a  long  and  arduous  missionary 
tour.*  He  enjoyed  an  unusually  strong  state  of  health 
this  autumn,  and  went  through  his  herculean  task  with 
the  most  perfect  comfort  to  himself,  and  no  small  be- 
nefit to  the  cause  he  espoused.  On  August  23rd, 
1823,  he  entered  on  his  79th  year,  and  kept  his  birth- 
day, not  with  rest  and  festivity,  but  by  a  sermon  at 
Tavistock;  desiring  that  the  day  of  his  own  nativity 
should  be  the  date  of  the  new  birth  unto  righteousness 
in  others,  till  then  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins. 

,  *  I  have  thought  it  worth  while  to  give  fi'om  his  memoranda, 
the  following  arrangement  for  August  and  September,  1823,  to 
show  what  a  plan  of  exertion  my  venerable  relative  had  marked 
out  for  himself  at  78  years  of  age,  a  period  at  which  most  old 
men  naturally  look  for  quiet,  indulgence,  and  repose. 

Awgusi,  1823.       18  Exeter  6  Pounsford-dinner 

7  Sacrament  Pouns- 
ford  &  Taunton 


1 
2 
3 

4 
.5 

6  Trowbridge 

7  Bruton 

8  Sherborne 

9  Weymouth 

10  Weymouth 

11  WejTnouth 

12  Weymouth,  Dor-  31  Dartmouth 

Chester  — 

13  Bridport  September,  1823. 

14  Sidmouth  1  Kingsbridge 

15  Exmouth  2  Yeovil 

16  Exeter  3  Castle  Gary 

17  Exeter  4  Wincasion 

—  5  South  Potherton 


18  Exeter 

19  Tiverton 

20  Barnstaple 

21  Bideford 

22  Oakhampton 

23  Tavistock 

24  Tavistock 

25  Plymouth 

26  Plymouth 

27  Plymouth 

28  Ashburton 

29  Totness 

30  Kingsbridge 


8  Wellington 

9  Bridgewater 

10  Shep'ton  Mallet 

11  Homeward 

12  Bristol 
13 

14  Home  (probably  3 

times) 

15  Society 

16  Old  Town 

17  Kingswood 

18  Hawkesbury 

19  Newport 
20 

21  Wotton 


286  LAST  JOURNEY  TO  SCOTLAND. 

In  the  spring  of  1824  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  found 
engaged,  with  the  same  self-denial  and  earnestness  as 
ever,  in  the  cause  of  religion.  Mrs.  Hill  says,  in  a 
letter  dated  March  16th — "  Mr.  Hill  is  gone  into  the 
city  on  business,  and  from  thence  to  Hackney  to 
preach.  In  short,  he  has  so  much  to  do,  that  I  am. 
astonished  his  strength  holds  out ;  but  I  desire  to  be 
thankful  for  the  wonderful  health  he  has."  It  was 
this  year  proposed  to  him  to  revisit  Scotland  once 
more  in  the  summer,  and  he  thus  announced  his  ac- 
ceptance of  the  invitation  to  a  correspondent — "  You 
will  be  surprised  to  hear  tliat,  old  as  I  am,  I  have  ac- 
tually engaged  to  travel  so  far  as  Scotland.  Though 
I  fear  I  may  have  promised  too  much  for  my  time  of 
life ;  yet  I  must  look  up  to  the  strong  for  strength. 
I  go  directly  from  hence  to  Edinburgh  by  water." 
On  the  night  of  June  2,  Mr.  Hill  went  on  board  a 
steam  vessel,  which  left  the  river  Thames  on  the 
Wednesday  morning,  and  arrived  safe  at  Edinburgh  on 
the  Friday  following.  When  about  midway  on  his 
voyage,  he  was  requested  by  two  Scotch  members  of 
parliament  to  address  the  passengers,  and  readily 
assented  to  their  proposal.  The  subject  chosen,  was 
our  Lord's  sermon  on  the  mount,  on  which  he  com- 
mented in  a  natural,  easy,  and  impressive  manner,  for 
about  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  Though  in  his 
eightieth  year,  Mr.  Hill  stood  the  whole  time,  to  the 
astonishment  of  his  hearers,  and  the  power  which 
accompanied  his  words  produced  an  effect  upon  all 
present,  of  no  ordinary  nature.  As  soon  as  he  had 
concluded,  the  whole  assembly  of  about  sixty  per- 
sons, pressed  forward  to  shake  hands  and  thank  him ; 
and  it  was  evident  that  they  had  heard  with  serious 
attention,  a  message  of  truth  delivered  under  a  sense 
of  its  infinite  importance,  solenmized  by  the  reflection 
that  the  aged  lips  from  which  it  came,  must,  in  a  few 
years  more,  be  closed  in  the  silence  of  death.  He 
often  mentioned  this  interesting  event  with  the  most 
pleasing  recollections,  and  spoke  in  grateful  terms  of 


LAST  JOURNEY  TO  SCOTLAND.  287 

the  many  kind  attentions  shown  him  during  the  whole 
voyage. 

On  reaching  Edinburgh,  he  was  most  hospitably 
welcomed  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  J.  Aikman,  near 
Heriot's  Hospital,  who  very  obligingly  sent  me  the 
following  account  of  his  visit: — "I  regret  that  I  am 
able  to  say  so  little  respecting  the  last  visit  of  your 
late  venerable  and  highly  esteemed  relative  to  this 
city,  as  his  stay  was  so  very  short,  scarcely  completing 
a  week.  But  this  I  can  say  with  confidence,  that  his 
unexpected  appearance  amongst  us,  after  an  absence 
of  twenty-five  years,  was  hailed  with  much  delight  by 
Christians  of  all  denominations,  and  especially  by  those 
who  had  attended  his  ministrations,  during  his  former 
visits  to  this  country.  On  the  morning  of  the  only 
sabbath  he  spent  in  Edinburgh,  he  preached  to  a 
crowded  congregation  in  our  chapel,  of  upwards  of 
1,500  persons,  many  being  prevented  access  from  the 
multitude  which  thronged  the  doors,  and  for  whom 
there  was  no  accommodation.  In  the  evening,  he 
preached  to  a  still  larger  congregation,  in  Dr.  Peddie's 
(of  the  secession  church)  place  of  worship.  He  was 
listened  to,  on  both  occasions,  with  the  greatest  interest, 
and  considering  the  advanced  age  he  had  now  attain- 
ed, his  appearances,  while  highly  creditable  to  his 
talents,  were  still  more  illustrative  of  that  ardent  zeal 
in  the  adorable  Redeemer,  and  that  fervent  piety  and 
love  to  the  souls  of  men,  by  which  the  whole  career 
of  his  long,  laborious,  and  most  eminently  useful  life, 
has  been  so  much  distinguished.  His  friends  here 
were  fearful  lest  he  might  sustain  injury,  by  his  pulpit 
and  other  exertions ;  but  such  was  the  earnest  desire  he 
had  to  embrace  every  opportunity  of  promoting  the 
interests  of  that  great  cause  which  had  so  long  enga- 
ged all  his  energies,  that  he  unhesitatingly  engaged,  if 
I  mistake  not,  during  every  day  he  remained  with  us, 
to  preach  in  different  places  of  worship  in  the  city. 
He  preached  in  the  Tabernacle  for  his  old  friend,  Mr. 
James  Haldane,  in  the  Albany-street  chapel,  and  on 


288  LAST  JOURNEY  TO  SCOTLAND. 

the  evening  previously  to  his  quitting  us.  in  the 
large  chapel  of  the  secession  church,  near  Broughton- 
place,  to  an  overflowing  audience.  In  the  whole  of 
his  sermons  he  was  heard  with  the  most  respectful  at- 
tention, and  with  all  that  atfectionate  regard  which  the 
knowledge  of  his  honourable  character,  and  his  long, 
faithful,  and  disinterested  services  in  the  best  of  causes, 
so  justly  inspired.  On  reaching  Glasgow,  he  was  in- 
troduced, shortly  after  his  arrival,  if  I  recollect  right, 
to  a  public  meeting  of  the  friends  of  Christianity,  as- 
sembled for  the  promotion  of  some  one  of  those  great 
and  philanthropic  schemes,  for  the  spiritual  benefit  of 
our  fellow  men,  which  so  happily  mark  the  character 
of  the  period  in  which  our  lot  is  cast ;  and  his  appear- 
ance in  the  midst  of  them,  while  welcomed  by  the 
most  cordial  and  joyous  congratulations,  and  his  pater- 
nal and  atfectionate  address,  sfave  an  impulse  to  the 
meeting,  of  no  ordinary  kind.  His  exertions  in  the 
week,  were  of  a  similar  character  with  those  by  which 
his  short  residence  here  was  marked,  and  while,  in 
leaving  us,  we  experienced  a  measure, of  that  feeling 
which  prevailed  in  the  breasts  of  the  Ephesian  bre- 
thren, when  taking  leave  of  Paul — "  that  they  should 
see  his  face  no  more  in  the  llesh,"  we  were  yet  soothed 
by  the  reflection,  that  the  Lor-d,  in  his  adorable  pro- 
vidence, had  permitted  us  once  more  to  see  and  hear 
him,  in  whose  former  labours  many  of  us  had  felt  so 
deep  an  interest,  and  of  which  labours,  and  I  can  speak 
of  what  came  under  my  own  personal  knowledge, 
there  is  fruit  gathered  many  years  since  into  the  hea- 
venly garner,  and  fruit  still  on  earth,  to  be  conveyed 
there  in  the  due  and  appointed  season." 

The  Monday  after  his  arrival  in  Edinburgh,  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  visited,  with  the  greatest  interest,  the 
scenes  of  his  past  labours.  On  the  Calton  Hill  he 
stood  for  a  few  minutes,  in  silent  and  pensive  contem- 
plation of  the  spot,  where,  in  former  days,  he  had 
addressed  assembled  thousands  on  the  momentous 
concerns  of  the  eternal  world  :  and  then  adverted  al- 


LIVERPOOL.      MANCHESTER.  289 

temately  to  the  magnificent  landscape  before  him,  and 
to  the  times  in  which,  standing  on  that  very  soil,  he 
had  felt  his  spirit  stirred  within  him,  to  point  out  to 
the  careless  and  to  tlie  ignorant,  the  only  road  to  the 
bright  and  everlasting  glories  of  a  heavenly  existence. 
Mr.  Hill  went  to  Glasgow  by  the  track  boat,  embark- 
ing at  Grangemouth,  a  small  village  in  Stirlingshire, 
and  his  presence  excited  an  intense  interest  in  the  peo- 
ple, who  crowded  to  see  him.     He  remained  on  deck 
nearly  the  whole  time  of  the  passage,  enjoying,  without 
fatigue,  the  beautiful  scenery  through  wliich  be  j)assed. 
Mr.  Hill  was  received  at  Glasgow  with  enthusiasm. 
and  became  the  chief  object  of  attraction,  durina:  the 
bustle  and  excitement  of  a  week's  religious  fesfival. 
At  Paisley  he  preached  in  the  High  church,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  Greenock,  where  he  spent  several  days,  tiiat 
he  might  refresh  himself  by  excursions  on  the  lakes. 
On  his  departure,  numbers  followed  him  to  the  water's 
edge,  to  take  a  parting  look  and  bid  a  long  farewell 
to  the  aged  minister,  whose  hoaiy  hairs  and  furrowed 
cheeks  foretold  that  he  was  quitting  the  shores  of 
Scotland  for  ever.     After  a  boisterous  voyage  in  a 
steam  vessel,  Mr.  Hill  reached  Liverpool  at  three  in 
the  morning  ;  he  went  to  bed  till  eight  o'clock,  when 
he  arose  to  breakfast,  and  was  sufficiently  recovered 
by  the  evening  to  address  an  overflowing  congrega- 
tion in  the  chapel  of  Dr.  Raffles.     "It  is  no  use  try- 
ing to  get  in,"  said  a  man,  "  they  run  over  like  peas 
from  a  bushel,"— and  so  they  did  in  everyplace  during 
this  entire  journey.     The  same  sensation  was  excited 
at  Manchester,  by  Mr.  Hill's  staying  to  preach  there 
on  his  way  to  Hawkstone,  his  birth  place,  and  to 
Hardwick,  the  seat  of  Lord  Hill.     After  a  most  kind 
reception  from  his  family,  he  returned  to  Wotton, 
delighted  with  his  tour,  and  the  success  of  the  collec- 
tions, which  amounted  to  nearly  sixteen  hundred 
pounds.  On  his  arrival,  Mrs.  Hill  wrote  me  word  : — 
"  All  his  friends  here  were  pleased  to  see  him  look  so 
well,  and  I  doubt  not  but  vou  will  feel  the  same  plea- 
25 


290  RETURN  TO  WOTTON. 

sure  by  the  information  you  receive.  Through  mercy 
he  was  protected  on  his  journey,  though  he  had  a  ter- 
rible voyage  on  his  return  from  Scotland.  I  hope, 
from  all  I  hear,  that  his  visit  to  the  North  will  not  be 

in  vain.     I  understood  from ,  who  was  there  at 

the  same  time,  that  the  respect  shown  him  was  very 
great,  which  you  know  is  very  pleasing  to  flesh  and 
blood ;  but  what  is  much  better,  vast  crowds  attended 
his  preaching,  and  from  the  immense  multitude,  we 
may  hope  some  might  be  called  from  darkness  to 
light,  from  sin  to  God." 


PASTORAL  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.   291 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

PASTORAL  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

Ample  justice  has  been  done,  by  the  admirers  of 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  to  the  power  and  spirituality  of  his 
preaching,  the  splendour  of  which  somewhat  over- 
powered the  gentler,  but  not  less  admirable  light  of 
his  character,  as  a  pastor  and  adviser  of  those  bene- 
fited by  truths,  faithfully  and  impressively  declared 
from  the  pulpit.  Some,  indeed,  have  ventured  to 
insinuate,  that  he  was  found  wanting,  in  the  discharge 
of  this  essential  part  of  ministerial  duty ;  I  shall 
therefore  devote  the  following  chapter,  to  instances  of 
Mr.  Hill's  private  intercourse  with  his  people,  in 
which  he  was  an  example  truly  worthy  to  be  follow- 
ed, by  all  who  have  undertaken  the  solemn  charge 
of  "  watching  for  souls,  as  men  that  must  give  an  ac- 
count." I  am  happily  confirmed  in  my  view  of  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill's  vigilance  over  his  converts,  by  the 
opinion  of  others,  who  had  abundant  opportunities 
of  observing  it.  One  of  these,*  an  excellent  and  well 
known  dissenting  minister,  kindly  wrote  to  me  on 
this  subject,  and  I  cannot  do  better  than  avail  myself 
of  his  judicious  testimony.  In  adverting  to  his  ac- 
quaintance with  Mr.  Hill,  he  says,  "  there  is  nothing 
in  life  that  I  look  back  upon  with  more  pleasure,  than 
the  neighbourly  and  friendly  intercourse  I  was,  for  a 
long  series  of  years,  permitted  to  enjoy  with  that 
eminent  servant  of  Jesus  Christ.  One  or  two  points 
I  should  like  to  be  noticed  in  his  memoirs,  which  hap- 
pening to  fall  under  my  immediate  observation,  and 
perhaps  not  equally  so  under  that  of  others,  are  de- 
*  The  Rev.  George  Clayton. 


292  VISITS  TO  HIS  PEOPLE. 

serving  of  a  lasting  record,  as  illustrative  of  his 
character,  and  as  entitled  to  imitation.  There  are 
many  who  knew  and  admired  him  in  the  character 
of  a  preacJier^  who  possibly  give  him  less  credit  than 
they  ought  in  the  cliaracter  of  a  pasto7\  During  the 
months  he  was  in  town,  he  not  only  filled  the  pulpit, 
but  he  watched  and  tended  the  flock.  Calling  on  him 
one  morning  at  Surry  chapel  house,  seven  or  eight 
years  ago,*  I  found  him  attired  for  going  abroad.  He 
said  he  was  going  a  round  of  pastoral  visitation,  and 
I  very  courteously  invited  me  to  accompany  him. 
Having  an  hour  or  two  to  spare,  I  readily  complied. 
He  first  conducted  me  to  the  alms-houses,  and  passing 
from  one  apartment  to  another,  he  gave  a  word  of 
exhortation  and  comfort  to  the  old  ladies  ;  and  with 
one  of  them,  confined  by  illness,  he  offered  up  a 
prayer,  very  short,  but  admirable  for  its  simplicity, 
spirituality,  and  adaptation.  We  then  proceeded  to 
some  of  the  most  wretched  hovels,  which  abound  in 
the  back  streets  of  that  neighbourhood.  Several  of 
tliese  were  inhabited  by  pious  poor.  He  spoke  to 
them  with  tender  sympathy,  and  the  most  lovely  con- 
descension. One  or  two  he  admonished  for  their 
slovenly  neglect  and  want  of  cleanliness,  reminding 
them  that  godliness  should  make  people  tidy  and  clean 
in  their  habits.  With  some  he  left  money  ;  with  some 
he  offered  prayer — to  all  he  gave  kind  looks,  kind 
words,  and  his  blessing.  Coming  out  of  a  room  that 
was  certainly  ve7-y  dirtT/,  he  exclaimed,  '  we  must 
endure  all  things  for  the  salvation  of  souls.'  After 
this,  we  entered  the  habitations  of  others  of  his 
charge,  moving  in  what  is  called  a  respectable  sphere 
of  life.  Among  these,  some  of  whom  were  the  prin- 
cipal tradespeople  in  Southwark,  he  dropped  a  word 
in  season,  comforting  the  afflicted,  warning  their 
minds  against  impatience  and  fretfulness,  and  exhort- 
ing to  perseverance  and  prayer.     It  was  truly  edify- 

*  It  should  be  recollected  that  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  then 
more  than  eighty  years  of  age. 


VISITS  TO  THE  SICK.  293 

ing  to  observe  how  he  changed  his  tone  and  manner, 
according  to  the  requirements  of  the  case,  and  how 
truly  '  grace  was  poured  into  his  hps'  while  he  went 
from  house  to  house  as  the  '  shepherd  of  his  people.' " 
This  is  a  most  accurate  description  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill's  mode  of  visiting  his  people,  a  duty  which  no 
person  ever  more  wisely  or  faithfully  discharged.  He 
balanced  admirably  between  the  doing  and  overdo- 
ing of  this  difficult  part  of  a  minister's  work — be- 
tween the  inattention  which  the  people  regard  as  a 
neglect,  and  those  too  frequent  and  hasty  calls  wiiich 
are  little  valued,  if  not  often  considered  intrusive. 
On  these  occasions  too,  he  always  went  as  a  ininis- 
te)',  and  in  no  other  character,  and  was  careflil  to 
avoid  all  conversation  but  that  which  was  profitable. 
He  strongly  urged  upon  the  poor  the  necessity  of 
every  possible  adornment  of  the  Christian  character, 
particularly  cleanliness  ;  and  used  always  to  consider 
a  slovenly  person  and  a  dirty  house,  as  an  evidence 
that  religion  had  effected  no  salutary  change  in  the 
character.  The  admirable  neatness  of  the  inmates 
of  his  alms-houses  at  Wotton,  struck  every  one  who 
visited  them.  The  least  symptom  of  untidiness  was 
noticed  by  him  in  an  instant  with  "  here,  mistress,  is 
a  trifle  for  you  to  buy  some  soap  and  a  scrub-brush 
— there  is  plenty  of  water  to  be  had  for  nothing ; 
good  Mr.  Whitefield  used  to  say,  '  cleanliness  is  next 
to  godliness.'" 

The  solemn  faithfiilness  of  Mr.  Rowland  HilPs 
conversation  with  the  sick,  was  always  in  the  accents 
of  love  :  and  his  concluding  prayer  seldom  left  a 
tearless  eye  in  the  chamber  of  the  dying.  His  manner 
of  pointing  out  to  the  penitent  sufferer,  the  difierence 
between  the  repentance  of  fear  and  love,  was  exceed- 
ingly clear,  and  often  productive  of  the  happiest 
effects.  His  attention  also  to  the  little  comforts  of 
the  afflicted  poor,  made  them  feel  that  he  really  had 
their  interests  at  heart.  I  have  seen  him  early  in  the 
summer  .searching  his  garden,  with  &  basket  in  his 
2.5* 


294  ADVICE  TO  CONVERTS. 

hand,  for  the  feAv  ripe  strawberries  he  could  find,  to 
carry  them  himself  to  some  suflerer,  to  whom  they 
would  prove  a  welcome  refreshment ;  and  when  he 
offered  this  little  present,  it  was  with  a  most  affection- 
ate kindness  of  manner.  I  have  before  described  the 
agitation  under  which  Mr.  Hill  often  laboured,  when 
he  left  scenes  of  sickness  and  distress,  and  1  think  I 
can  truly  venture  to  afiirm,  that  he  sympathized  most 
sincerely,  on  all  occasions,  with  the  trials  of  each  in- 
dividual who  confided  in  him.  Not  only  were  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill's  personal  visits  directed  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  his  people,  but  he  freciuently  corresponded 
with  many  of  them  for  the  same  laudable  purpose. 
He  wrote  to  a  young  gentleman,  to  whom  his  minis- 
try had  been  made  useful,  in  the  following  kind  and 
encouraging  terms — "you,  my  dear  young  friend, 
should  exceedingly  magnify  the  grace  of  God,  by 
which,  I  trust,  you  have  been  called,  so  early  in  life, 
to  the  Iviiowledge  of  Inmself,  whom  to  know  is  life 
eternal,  whom  to  serve  is  heaven  upon  earth.  I  am 
grieved  at  heart,  that  you  have  had  too  many  stum- 
bling-blocks set  before  you.  in  what  is  called  the  reli- 
gious world  ;  still  real  religion  is  the  same ;  there 
would  be  no  counterfeits,  if  there  was  not  real  gold. 
The  grace  of  God  converts  the  heart  and  regulates 
the  life  in  time,  and  ultimately  brings  us  to  himself 
in  eternity  ;  and  such,  amidst  too  many  false  profes- 
sors, are  still  to  be  found,  who  prove  themselves  to  be 
blameless  and  harmless,  the  sons  of  God,  and  are 
enabled  to  shine  as  lights  of  the  world." 

To  the  same  friend,  on  receiving  tidings  which  his 
words  will  explain,  Mr.  Hill  wrote — "  your  letter  con- 
tains plenty  of  good  news,  and  some  of  the  best  of 
it  in  a  short  compass.  What  a  mercy,  that  your 
union  has  been  attended  with  such  a  blessing  to  others 

of  the  same  family.     Miss ,  you  humbly  trust, 

has  bean  brought  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is 

in  God  our  Saviour,  and  Mrs. begins  to  feel  the 

like  inchnation  towards  the  things  of  God.     The 


ADVICE  TO  CONVERTS.  295 

more  we  feel  our  hearts  brought  into  sweet  union 
with  God,  the  more  will  our  union  with  each  other 
be  attended  with  such  consequences,  as  are  happy 
and  blessed  among  ourselves.  Peace  and  love  from 
God,  when  shed  abroad  in  the  heart  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  from  above,  is  sure  to  produce  peace  and  love 
among  ourselves.  What  a  perpetual  hell  possesses 
the  minds  of  those,  who  are  under  tlie  dominion  of 
their  corrupted  passions,  and  what  sweet  serenity, 
what  perfect  peace  do  they  enjoy,  whose  minds  are 
stayed  on  God.  O  that  we  may  enter  into  that  state 
of  spiritual  rest  which  sweetens  every  cross,  and 
renders  our  sharpest  trials  among  the  richest  of  our 
blessings  in  disguise !" 

Mr.  Hill  was  always  a  willing  guide  to  those  whom 
religion  had  involved  in  domestic  trials,  of  which  I 
shall  give  an  instance,  in  his  advice  to  a  young  lady 
under  the  deepest  impressions,  but  much  opposed  at 
home.  "  The  question  you  ask,  how  far  it  is  right  to 
abstain  from  conversing  on  religion  upon  parental 
authority,  I  [will]  answer  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 
It  is  a  happiness  for  you,  dear  madam,  that  you  have 
not  a  desire  or  wish  to  converse  upon  any  religious 
subjects,  but  such  as  the  subject  matter  of  our  devo- 
tions in  the  public  liturgy ;  and  to  be  prohibited  from 
ever  speaking  about  that,  which  should  be  [our] 
present  practice  as  well  as  [our]  futiu'e  hope,  would 
be  a  strange  prohibition  indeed,  and  in  direct  viola- 
tion of  that  express  command,  let  your  conversation 
he  always  to  the  use  of  edifying^  that  it  may  admin- 
ister grace  to  the  hearers.  See  also  Deut.  vi.  6 — 10  ; 
Mai.  iii.  16,  17.  Had  you  been  unhappily  led  aside 
by  Roman  Catholics,  by  Socinians,  or  by  any  other 
sectarian  sentiments,  contrary  to  those  sound  doc- 
trines taught  by  our  established  church,  I  should  even 
then  think  it  a  hardship  to  impose  a  silence,  while 
conscience,  though  in  error,  directs  you  to  propagate 
what  you  conceive  to  be  right.  While  at  the  same 
time  [that]  1  might  admire  your  upright  zeal,  I  should 


396  SCHISM. 

do  the  utmost  in  my  power  to  use  no  other  weapons, 
but  those  of  sound  arguments,  to  refute  your  errors, 
and  that  by  the  most  persuasive  mildness  to  win  by 
love,  as  well  as  to  convince  by  truth.  Let  it  therefore 
be  hoped,  that  when  your  parents  have  fully  disco- 
vered, you  have  not  a  wish  to- hint  to  any  relative  or 
friend,  beyond  what  should  be  the  daily  practice  of  us 
all — a  serious  caution  ao-ainst  such  a  conformity  to 
the  world,  as  must  have  a  tendency  to  pollute  the 
mind,  without  any  sanctimonious  severity  against 
others  in  matters  that  are  indifferent,  and  that  your 
faith  is  the  common  creed  of  all  Christians  of  the 
Protestant  persuasion — when  your  parents  have  abun- 
dant evidence  of  this,  they  will  feel  their  mistake,  and 
find  it  their  duty  to  permit  you  to  live  comfortable  at 
home,  and  allow  at  least  some  variation  of  sentiments 
in  you,  which  may  not  be  altogether  conformable  to 
their  own.  1  trust  it  will  prove  an  argument  greatly 
in  your  favour,  that  while  you  love  the  good  man  of 
every  denomination,  yet  it  is  not  your  design  or  wish 
to  deviate  from  the  establislied  church,  or  to  make 
proselytes  on  such  a  low  design  ;  but  if  you  can  give 
good  advice  to  such  as  are  bad.  and-  direct  them  to 
the  Saviour,  that  he  may  change  their  hearts,  I  must 
say  that  no  parental  authority  should  prevent  you 
from  so  good  a  wark.  If  such  are  persecuted,  it  is 
for  righteousness'  sake,  and  then  the  Spirit  of  God 
and  of  glory  shall  rest  upon  them  :  1  Pet.  iv.  12 — 18." 
When  asked  his  opinion  upon  the  natiu'e  of  schism, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  replied — "the  woi-d  schism  is  made 
frightful  by  misapplication.  Our  fellow  subjects  in 
Scotland  are  Presbyterians,  should  they  uot  be  allowed 
to  he  the  same  in  England  also,  where  we  are  Episco- 
palians l  Why  should  I  be  prohibited  from  being  an 
Episcopalian  when  there  ?  Are  we  not  to  be  permit- 
ted to  choose  our  own  church  discipline,  witliout  being 
branded  with  such  an  odious  appellation  ?  A  schis- 
matic is  a  man  of  a  turbulent  bad  spirit,  to  whatever 
party,  respecting  things  that  are  indilferent,  he  may 


ADVICE.       FASTING.  297 

belong ;  but  if  we  allow  that  these  little  shades  of 
difference  may  exist,  we  ought  to  love  as  brethren, 
and  where  Christian  candour  and  love  is  found  to 
reign,  the  odious  sin  of  schism,  according  to  its  ge- 
nuine interpretation,  can  never  exist." 

A  yor.ng  Christian  was  so  tried  by  opposition  at 
home,  as  to  be  driven  to  inquire  whether  it  might 
not  be  allowable  to  seek  an  opportunity  of  leaving  the 
parental  roof  Mr.  Hill's  reply  to  the  question  was, 
"  I  am  truly  sorry  for  your  perplexity.  To  leave  a 
parent's  home  I  conceive  is  a  step  that  would  not  be 
advisable,  but  under  very  severe  and  oppressive  cir- 
cumstances indeed.  That  separation  from  the  world 
which  we  conceive  real  Christianity  inspires  and  de- 
mands, as  it  respects  its  sinful  amusements  and  de- 
lights, may  give  considerable  offence,  and  for  a  con- 
siderable time ;  but  while  v/e  are  directed  by  the 
grace  of  God  which  is  in  us,  not  to  be  conformed  to 
this  world,  yet,  under  the  guidance  of  that  good  sense 
which  true  religion  naturally  inspires,  we  shall  be 
enabled  to  obviate  the  mistake,  that  we  are  not  actu- 
ated by  sour  moroseness,  but  by  an  obedient  attention 
to  what  we  conceive  to  be  the  will  of  God,  [and  to 
show]  that  we  know  how  to  keep  up  the  distinction 
between  pious  cheerfulness  and  frothy  levity,  in  our 
conversation  in  the  world.  It  is  this  that  will  enable 
us  to  show  more  cheerful  obedience  and  affectionate 
attention,  to  such  as  have  a  natural  authority  over 
us ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  few  will  be  found  in  this 
liberal  and  enlightened  age,  who  will  not  be  won  by 
such  patient  continuance  in  well  doing." 

To  an  inquirer  as  to  the  duty  of  fastmg;  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  writes — "  you  ask  me  about  the  duty 
of  fasting.  This  seems  more  as  a  duty  upon  solemn 
occasions,  than  that  which  is  enjoined  upon  us  indi- 
vidually like  other  duties,  whicli  can  never  cease  to 
exist.  The  duties  of  prayer,  repentance,  faith,  love, 
watchfulness,  holy  patience,  resignation  and  submis- 
sion to  the  holy  will  of  God,  and  a  variety  of  others 


298  REAL  RELIGION. 

of  the  same  sort,  should  become  the  constant  habit 
and  practice  of  the  mind  ;  and  if  at  any  time  private 
fasting  may  be  onr  duty,  yet  still  we  are  directed  as 
much  as  possible  not  to  appear  to  fast  before  men, 
that  the  duty  may  be  performed  with  greater  sincerity 
before  God.  I  believe  we  are  much  more  called  to 
regular  abstinence,  and  constant  mortification  of 
every  evil  habit  and  desire,  than  to  those  particular 
acts  that  may  occasionally  be  enjoined." 

Wiien  advising  a  young  Christian  as  to  conduct 
before  worldly  parents,  he  observes—"  Much  pre- 
judice is  found  to  arise  in  the  minds  of  many,  through 
mere  mistake  respecting  what  religion  really  is.  A 
preposterous  or  caricatured  misconception  frequently 
occupies  the  mind,  through  misrepresentation  or  want 
of  proper  information.  It  is  our  mercy,  however,  that 
the  wisdom  and  prudence  which  real  religion  inspires, 
is  so  well  calculated  to  obviate  these  objections.  It 
directs  us  to  go  to  the  Bible  alone,  that  our  creed  and 
conduct  may  be  regulated  thereby ;  while  it  is  not 
less  favourable,  to  those  who  claim  a  relationship  to 
the  established  church,  [for]  as  she  directs,  so  we  be- 
lieve. The  awful  proof  of  the  depravity  of  the 
human  race,  is  too  notorious  to  be  denied,  and  while 
reason  tells  us  that  he  alone  can  forgive  us,  against 
whom  the  offence  has  been  committed,  revelation 
makes  known  to  us  the  way  whereby  alone  we  can 
be  forgiven,  through  him  that  suffered,  the  just  for 
the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us  to  God ;  not  that 
we  may  wantonly  live  in  sin,  but  that  we  may  most 
powerfully  be  saved  from  it.  And  while  this  most 
important  doctrine  of  the  renewal  of  the  heart  is  made 
so  much  the  subject  of  divine  revelation,  we  find  it 
not  less  the  subject  of  our  perpetual  devotions,  in  the 
established  church.  Can  we  conceive  a  higher  strain 
of  devotion,  than  what  we  have  in  that  prayer  in  the 
communion  service — '  Cleanse  the  thoughts  of  our 
hearts  by  the  inspiration  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  that  we 
may  perfectly  love  thee  and  worthily  magnify  thy 


LETTER  TO  MISS  WATHEN.      '  299 

holy  name ;'  and  fiirther — '  that  we  being  regene- 
rate and  made  thy  children  by  adoption  and  grace, 
may  daily  be  renewed  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  ?'  It  must 
be  confessed,  that  if  we  live  consistently  with  such 
devotions  as  these,  we  cannot  live  according  to  the 
course  of  this  world,  but  we  must  live  unto  God. 
And  here  is  our  difliculty  ;  a  solemn  cheerfulness  is 
our  privilege,  while  a  sullen  moroseness  tends  only 
to  disgust.  I  trust  your  own  good  sense  will  direct 
you  To  this  happy  medium  before  your  parents, 
while  they  are  given  to  understand,  by  your  in- 
creased affection  and  attention  to  them,  that  they 
may  have  full  evidence,  that  they  cannot  have  a 
child  that  loves  them  better,  because  you  love  and 
fear  the  Lord." 

The  kind  feeling,  added  to  his  natural  benevolence, 
with  which  religion  inspired  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  was 
continually  manifested  in  his  correspondence.  Of 
this  we  have  a  pleasing  specimen,  in  a  letter  to  a 
little  girl,  the  daughter  of  his  friend  Mr.  Wathen. 

My  dear  Miss  Wathen, 

How  kind  to  correspond  with  such  an  old  man, 
old  enough  to  be  your  great  grandfather.  Should 
I  ever  be  ground  young  again,  I  shall  certainly  re- 
member your  kind  attention  to  me  ;  but  as  I  cannot 
find  out  where  the  mill  is  to  be  found  that  grinds  old 
people  into  young  ones,  I  can  only  advise  my  young 
friend.  Miss  Wathen,  to  follow  the  excellent  advice 
of  her  parents,  whereby  she  will  be  directed  to  be 
wise  and  good  ;  but  not  without  the  Lord  should 
bless  her  with  his  grace,  whereby  she  alone  can  be 
enabled  to  live  to  his  glory.  With  love  to  your  most 
dear  parents,  believe  me  to  be. 

Most  affectionately  yours, 
ROWLAND  HILL. 

From  these  specimens  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  cor^ 
respondence,  it  will  be  seen  how  vigilantly,  affection- 


300  CHARITIES  OP  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

ately,  and  wisely  he  discharged  the  office  of  a  pasto- 
ral guide  and  adviser  of  his  followers.  He  was  not 
without  his  failings  as  a  man;  his  peculiar  course  it 
would  be  vain,  as  it  would  be  unwise,  for  any  other 
individual  to  attempt  to  follow ;  but  as  respects  his 
character  as  a  shepherd  of  the  flock,  the  greatest  ho- 
nour we  can  pay  his  memory,  is  to  imitate  his  watch- 
fiihiess,  prudence,  and  aflectionate  patience  towards 
all  who  souo-ht  the  benefit  of  his  counsel. 

Another  admirable  feature  in  the  character  of  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill,  was  the  discretion  which  he  exercised 
in  the  distribution  of  his  numerous  charities.  Indis- 
creet benevolence,  however  diffusive,  confers  no  real 
benefit  on  society  ;  and  it  is  as  morally  wrong  to  en- 
courage imposture  in  the  lower  orders,  as  it  is  to  re- 
fuse them  the  assistance  their  necessities  require.  To 
this  Mr.  Hill  was  perfectly  alive  ;  and,  besides  the  ju- 
dicious visits  of  the  members  of  the  Surry  chapel  Be- 
nevolent Society,  he  used  every  means  in  his  power 
to  inquire  into  the  wants  of  applicants  before  he  re- 
lieved them  ;  and  I  can  truly  affirm,  that  I  never  yet 
saw  a  case  of  real  distress  turned  away  by  him  with- 
out some  consolatory  act  of  kindness.  In  the  country, 
also,  he  endeavoured  to  suit  the  assistance  he  gave 
the  poor  to  their  peculiar  circumstances,  with  which 
he  was  intimately  acquainted,  arjd  devised  all  sorts 
of  plans,  in  seasons  of  unusual  suffering,  to  extend  a 
continuance  of  the  charity  required  during  the  time 
it  was  most  needed.  It  has  been  well  observed  to  me, 
in  a  kind  communication  in  reference  to  this  work,* 
"So  many  eccentric,  ludicrous,  and  extravagant  things 
have  been  circulated  of  Mr.  Hill  in  relation  to  his 
charitable  deeds,  as  though  he  were  open  to  imposi- 
tion from  the  frail  benevolence  of  his  heart,  that  it 
ought  to  be  known  that  good  sense,  shrewd  discern- 
ment, and  sound  experience,  were  united  in  the  exer- 
cise of  that  large  philanthropy,  by  which  he  was  pre- 
eminently distinguislied  in  life  and  death."  To  do 
♦  By  the  Rev.  George  Clayton. 


CHARITIES  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  301 

justice  to  the  memory  of  my  beloved  ^ardian,  as  re- 
spects his  private  intercourse  with  his  people,  and  the 
wisdom  and  benevolence  of  his  heart,  has  been  my 
object  in  this  brief  chapter,  from  which,  I  trust,  it  has 
appeared,  that  he  was  not  allured  by  a  flattering  popu- 
larity into  forgetfulness  of  the  silent  and  unseen  vir- 
tues of  a  hfe,  both  in  public  and  private,  dedicated 
to  God. 

26 


302  MR.  hill's  presents  for  children. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MR.  hill's  presents  FOR  CHILDREN. 

When  the  increasing  dimness  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill's  sight,  from  repeated  attacks  of  inflammation, 
very  mnch  prevented  his  reading,  he  found  a  source 
of  in-door  amusement,  in  making  some  pretty  and 
instructive  presents  for  the  children  of  his  friends. 
These  were  boxes  covered  with  coloured  paper,  and 
containing,  in  partitions,  the  letters  of  the  alphabet, 
from  which  improving  sentences  and  texts  of  scripture 
might  be  formed.  In  each  box  there  were  printed 
directions,  in  easy  verse,  to  be  learnt  by  the  children, 
and  a  couplet  in  rhyme  on  every  letter.  In  a  morn- 
ing before  breakfast,  Mr.  Hill  was  to  be  seen  hard 
at  work  on  his  newly-invented  playthings,  cutting 
out  the  letters,  which  he  had  had  printed  on  paste- 
board for  the  purpose,  with  the  greatest  apparent 
earnestness.  While  at  Bristol,  in  1824,  he  gave  a 
specimen  of  his  invention  to  Mrs.  Hannah  More,  who 
says,  in  her  answer  to  the  letter  which  accompanied 
it,  "  I  admire  the  usefulness  and  the  humility  of  all 
your  baby  manufactures.  Your  carefully  sorted 
alphabets  are  like  Ajax  making  bows  and  arrows  for 
little  children.  Happy  would  it  have  been  for  cer- 
tain heroes,  ancient  and  modern,  who  set  the  world 
in  a  flame,  had  their  leisure  been  as  innocently  and 
usefully  employed."  When  he  sent  his  little  present 
to  this  celebrated  and  excellent  authoress,  Mr.  Hill 
indulged  his  humorous  vein  by  imitating  the  style 
of  Sternhold  and  Hopkins  : 

With  this  my  love  doth  come  to  you  ; 
My  love  it  is  both  sure  and  true, 


DANGER  AND  RECOVERY  OF  MRS.  HILL.         303 

And  eke  the  same,  likewise  also, 
Unto  your  household  it  doth^o. 

It  is  pleasing  to  see  the  playful  and  lively  spirit  of 
tliese  two  useful  and  admirable  persons,  whose  cheer- 
fulness was  the  result  of  a  life  spent  in  cultivating  the 
truest  spirit  of  genuine  Christianity. 

In  December,  1S24,  Mrs.  Hill  had  the  courage,  at 
her  advanced  age,  to  submit  to  a  dangerous  and  pain- 
ful operation,  which  she  bore  witii  amazing  fortitude 
and  patience.  Her  recovery  was  rapid,  even  beyond 
the  expectations  of  the  eminent  and  skilful  surgeons 
who  attended  her,*  and  the  effect  produced  on  her 
mind,  was  an  admirable  proof  of  the  depth  and  reali- 
ty of  tlie  religion  she  professed.  When  Mr.  Jones 
wrote  from  Wotton,  to  express  his  anxiety  and  that 
of  the  people  for  her  restoration,  she  added  the  follow- 
ing postscript  to  Mr.  Hill's  reply.  "  I  cannot  let  this  go 
without  trying  to  send  you  a  line  or  two,  (it  is  my 
first  attempt  at  letter-writing  since  my  illness,)  to 
thank  you  for  your  very  kind  letter.  The  contents 
of  it  drew  a  pleasant  tear  from  my  eye,  as  having 
a  hope  your  requests  would  be  heard  on  my  behalf. 
I  am  afraid  to  say  so,  but  I  think,  in  some  measure,  I 
desire  purification  of  soul,  may  be  the  blessing  I  may 
gain  from  the  trial  I  have  had.  My  mind  has  been 
calm  during  the  confinement  of  a  sick  room  ;  and  at 
the  time  of  operation,  I  trust  I  was  enabled  to  look  to 
God  for  his  support ;  and  I  had  a  confidence  that  the 
prayers  of  the  children  of  God  would  be  heard,  as  I 
believe  many  felt  and  prayed  for  me."  In  a  letter  to 
her  friend,  Mrs.  Edward  Walker,  her  feelings  under 
the  severe  trial  are  further  expressed  by  Mrs.  Hill : 
"  I  have  been  writing  to  you  several  times  in  my  own 
mind,  but  now  I  will  try  to  bring  it  into  effect,  as  I 
am  persuaded  you  will  be  glad  to  receive  a  few  lines 
from  me.  I  must  not  write  much,  as  I  fuid  neither 
my  head  nor  arm  can  yet  bear  much  use.     Through 

*  Sir  William  Blizard  and  Mr.  English. 


304  JOURNEY  TO  THE  WEST  OP  ENGLAND. 

the  mercy  of  God  I  am  as  well,  nay,  better  than  could 
be  expected ;  but  being  of  a  nervous  habit,  I  feel  now, 
in  that  respect,  from  the  shock  of  a  severe  operation. 
But  O,  what  cause  have  I  to  be  very  thankful  for  the 
support,  I  trust  I  was  favoured  with  in  a  time  of 
need,  and  I  hope  it  is  my  desire  (but  we  know  not 
ourselves)  that  the  afiiiction  may  not  wear  away, 
without  a  real  blessing  to  my  soul.  My  five  weeks' 
retirement  has  been  a  time  of  consideration  and  ex- 
amination. I  cannot  look  back  oft  a  well-spent  life, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  I  find  much,  very  much,  to 
mourn  over ;  yet  I  hope  it  has,  in  some  measure,  been 
a  season  of  prayer  and  praise,  and  that  I  would  not 
have  been  without  the  afiiiction ;  but  we  are  not  good 
judges  of  ourselves  whilst  under  the  rod.  We  are 
deceitful  creatures ;  may  the  Lord  make  us  sincere  in 
every  point  of  view.  And  now,  my  dear  friend,  ac- 
cept my  thanks  for  your  Idnd  anxiety  about  me ; 
friendship  is  soothing  as  we  pass  through  this  vale  of 
trouble  and  sorrow." 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowland  Hill  commenced  every 
successive  year  of  their  lives  with  an  increasingly  ear- 
nest desire  to  be  found  in  the  service  of  God.  Mr. 
Hill's  prayer  was,  that  he  might  work  to  the  very 
last,  and  that  he  might  see  perpetual  fruits  of  his 
exertions.  "  To  preach  and  not  to  do  good  by  it," 
he  observed  to  a  friend,  "  is  one  of  the  greatest  trials 
I  know ;  but  the  Lord's  work  can  only  be  done  by 
the  Lord  liimself "  In  the  year  182.5  he  went  through 
his  usual  routine  in  London,  and  took  a  journey  into 
the  west  of  England,  actuated  by  the  purest  desire 
to  be  useful.  He  sometimes  exclaimed,  "  Lord,  help 
me  to  do  a  little  more  good  before  I  die,  and  raise  up 
young  ministers,  who  shall  work  from  the  bottom  of 
their  hearts.  These  last  are  what  I  find  it  difiicult  to 
meet  with."  He  was  also  fond  of  applying  to  him- 
self a  quotation  from  one  of  his  own  hymns  : 

My  dear  Redeemer  and  my  God, 
Take  thou  the  purchase  of  thy  blood  j 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  AT  EIGHTY-TWO.  305 

The  price  was  paid,  that  I  might  be 
A  living  sacrifice  to  thee. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  devotion  to  the  cause  of  religion 
was  accompanied  with  the  most  genuine  humility;  he 
felt,  to  use  his  own  expression,  "that  no  success 
could  be  the  result,  without  a  divine  influence  from 
above,"  and  that  he  had  "  reason  to  blush  that  God 
could  and  did  bless  so  feeble  an  instrument  for  such 
a  glorious  purpose."  In  one  of  his  journeys  in  1825, 
he  attacked  the  errors  of  Socinians  in  no  very  gentle 
terms,  some  of  whom  observed,  rather  sneeringly, 
"  poor  old  gentleman,  it  is  a  pity  he  does  not  leave 
off."  This  came  to  his  ears ;  and  after  a  very  animated 
address  on  a  public  occasion,  he  suddenly  said,  in  his 
own  inimitable  manner,  after  explaining  the  cause  of 
the  remark,  "  the  j)onr  old  gentleman  will  never  leave 
off,  till  the  power  to  refute  errors  and  spread  the 
truth  leaves  off  him,  so  further  kind  advice  on  this 
subject  will  only  be  thrown  away." 

In  the  spring  of  1826,  on  arriving  in  town,  I  found 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  preaching  in  Kent,  and  a  few 
days  after  I  reached  his  house,  he  returned,  full  of 
life  and  animation,  from  his  journey.  The  same 
course  of  activity  in  London,  and  the  same  diligence 
m  the  country,  marked  the  progress  of  this  venerable 
individual  during  the  whole  of  the  year.  He  made 
an  autumnal  journey  into  Devonshire,  preaching 
daily,  and  in  a  letter  dated  Exmouth,  August  25th, 
1826,  he  observes — "  I  have  now  entered  the  S3rd 
year  of  my  life ;  I  ought  to  be  much  more  ripe  than 
I  am.  I  wish,  by  a  wise  conduct,  as  long  as  strength 
lasts,  to  do  good  without  doing  harm.  My  course  is 
nearly  finished — O  that  I  may  finish  it  with  joy  !" 

In  the  beginning  of  January,  1827,  Mrs.  Hill  wrote 
me  word — "  Mr.  Hill  is  still  able  to  preach  twice  on  a 
Sunday,  though  he  says,  in  the  evening  of  the  day,  'I 
am  very  tired  ;'  but  he  is  thought  the  wonder  of  the 
age,  to  do  what  he  does  at  eighty-twoP  One  of  the 
most  remarkable  things  about  him  at  this  time  was, 
26* 


306  SPIRITUALITY  OF  HIS  SERMONS. 

that  his  voice  did  not  fail,  and  that  he  was  able  to 
command  the:  earnest  attention  of  his  immense  con- 
gregation, and  to  speak  so  as  to  be  heard  by  them  all. 
His  chief  trial  was  a  cough,  which  came  on  in  the 
spring,  but^  which,  while  it  affected  his  comfort  in  the 
delivery  of  his  sermons,  was  not  considered  at  all  det- 
rimental to  his  constitution,  as  he  was  relieved  by  con- 
siderable expectoration.  At  this  advanced  period  of 
his  life,  Mr.  Hill's  mind  seemed,  instead  of  loing  its 
powers;  only  to  be  more  and  more  matured  ;  and  his 
vividj'and,  in  former  years,  uncontrolled  imagination, 
did  not  take  less  loity  flights,  but  gathered,  in  the 
wide, range  of  its  excursions,  only  heavenly  fruits. 
The '  ludicrous  was  banished  fi-om  his  sermons,  and 
his  aspect  and  language  wore  all  the  solemn  dignity 
of  age ;  his  manner  too,  was  that  of  one  who  recol- 
lecte'd,  that  he  must  soon  himself  realize  the  impor- 
tance of  the  truths  he  had,  for  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury ■  been  charging  home  upon  a  thoughtless  and  a 
sinful  world.  AVlienever  I  happened  occasionally  to 
hear  him,  I  was  greatly  struck  with  the  increasing  rich- 
ness and  method  of  his  sermons ;  and  on  my  remarking 
the  latter  to  liim,  he  said,  "I  used  to  ramble  a  little, 
I  know,  but  I  believe  I  do  stick  to  my  text  in  my  old 
age."  I  never  shall  forget  the  power  with  which  he 
preached  about  this  time,  on  the  words,  I  know  that 
my  Redeemer  livetJi.  enlarging  on  the  necessity  of  a 
j)ersonally  felt  and  acknowledged  interest  in  Christ. 
"  The  older  I  grow,"  he  said,  "  the  more  I  feel  my 
need  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  only  evidence  I  have 
of  my  interest  in  him,  is  the  life-giving  influence  of  a 
living  Redeemer  on  my  heart — we  know  that  ice  are 
his,  by  the  spirit  which  he  hath  given  us.  O  fine 
expression  \— because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also — if 
Jesus  lives  in  your  hearts  by  faith,  then,  and  then 
only,  can  you  say,  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth. 
This  language  belongs  only  to  those  who  are  dead 
indeed  unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God  through  Jesus 
Clirist,  their  living  and  life-giving  Lord," 


HIS  LIKENESS  TAKEN  BY  MISS  SHEPPARD.      307 

To  be  useful,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  was, 
during  liis  whole  life,  the  happy  lot  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill ;  but  about  the  time  to  which  our  attention  has 
been  called  in  this  chapter,  he  was  destined  to  be  the 
means  of  good,  in  a  way  he  could  never  have  antici- 
pated. Miss  Sheppard,  a  young  lady  residing  at 
the  well  known  and  beautiful  place  belonging  to  her 
family,  called  the  Ridge,  near  Uley,  Gloucestershire, 
offered  to  take  his  likeness,  with  the  benevolent  view 
of  building  an  infant  school,  from  the  profits  of  the 
sale  of  a  print  to  be  engraved  from  her  painting.  In 
this  object  she  succeeded,  in  a  way  equally  creditable 
to  her  talents  and  her  land  disposition.  An  interest- 
ing correspondence  took  place  on  the  proposed  design, 
and  the  letters  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  have  been  very 
obligingly  lent  me  for  insertion  in  this  work.  The 
first  is  a  note  expressing  his  opinion  of  the  likeness. 

Dear  Madam, 

It  certainly  must  be  the  universal  opinion,  that 
you  have  hit  me  offxerj  correctly.  As  soon  as  it 
may  be  convenient  to  yourself,  on  Monday  morning 
next,  we  shall  be  happy  to  see  you.  We,  through 
the  mercy  of  God,  are  returned  in  o-ood  health  from 
our  western  tour.  We  hope  you  are  all  well  at  the 
Ridge. 

Yours,  sincerely, 

ROWXAND  HILL. 
Wotto7i,  Monday  evening. 

Miss  Sheppard,  in  order  to  secure  more  effectually 
the  success  of  her  plan,  requested  Mr.  Hill  to  promote 
the  sale  of  the  engraving,  to  which  he  replied  as  fol- 
lows : 

London^  October  26th,  1826. 
My  dear  Madam, 

To  oblige  kind  friends  is  at  all  times  a  grateful 
task,  but  a  difficulty  is  thrown  in  the  way  to  know 


308  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  LETTERS 

how  to  perform  it,  as  it  relates  to  your  present  re- 
quest. Had  you  sat  before  a  glass  and  taken  your 
ouai  likeness  as  completely  as  you  have  taken  mine, 
I  could  have  said  more  respecting  an  excellent  female 
artist,  than  I  can  say  when  I  have  to  sell  a  represen- 
tation of  myself  Perhaps,  however,  Mrs.  Hill  may, 
in  a  few  instances,  do  what  1  cannot.  But  a  further 
difficulty  will  be  found  among  most  of  her  expected 
customers :  she  will  have  to  treat  with  those  who 
have  shallow  pockets  and  short  purses,  and  who  ge- 
nerally complain  of  want  of  money  for  more  impor- 
tant purposes,  while  the  pressure  of  the  times  most 
grievously  augments  the  complaint.  However,  some- 
thing I  hope  we  may  be  able  to  accomplish,  and  if 
the  print  proves  as  good  as  the  painting,  I  should  hope 
the  eftbrt  may  be  made  with  some  little  success. 

Mrs.  Hill  feels  herself  much  obliged  to  Mrs.  Shep- 
pard,  for  her  kind  attention  in  seeking  out  for  a  ser- 
vant for  her. 

How  different  the  servitude  of  those  that  wait  upon 
each  other,  when  compared  to  the  servitude  of  those 
who  wait  upon  the  Lord.  All  his  commands  are  for 
our  own  interest  and  good,  and  the  more  we  serve 
him,  the  better  we  like  it.  How  different  the  service 
of  the  slaves  of  sin — how  disgraceful  their  occupa- 
tion, how  badly  paid !  With  us  it  is  good  wages, 
good  work,  good  food,  good  raiment ;  while  there  is 
provided  for'all  of  them  a  building,  a  glorious  build- 
ing, not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

With  kind  remembrances  to  all  the  family,  believe 
me  to  be, 

Most  sincerely  yours. 
Miss  Sheppard,  ROWLAND  HILL. 

The  Ridge,  Uley,  Gloucestershire. 
In  this,  and  in  two  other  letters  on  the  same  sub- 
ject, it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Hill  never  forgot  to  add, 
to  his  observations  on  the  concerns  of  time,  sentiments 


TO  MISS  SHEPPARD.  309 

that  might  elevate  the  mind  to  objects  of  eternal  in 
terest.  The  next  letter  is  a  beautiful  instance  of  this 
habit. 

London,  March  20th,  1827. 
My  dear  Madam, 

I  have  not  sufficient  vanity  to  suppose,  that  the 
very  correct  and  well-executed  representation  of  my 
old  phiz,  would  have  had  such  a  run  among  some 
of  the  higher  ranks,  but  out  of  admiration  of  the  fe- 
male artist,  who  can  imitate  life  and  mind  after  such 
an  inimitable  style.  Though  I  have  not  suffic^ient  va- 
nity to  hang  up  myself  in  my  own  house,  yet  1  must 
contrive  somehow  so  to  exhibit  myself,  that,  if  possible, 
I  may  pick  up  some  customers  for  the  accomplishment 
of  your  kind  design.  [Still]  I  cannot  form  for  my- 
self any  sanguine  hopes  of  considerable  success,  as 
those  with  whom  I  am  called  to  labour  are  found  to 
be  among  the  poorer,  or  at  least  the  middling  classes 
of  mankind,  and  these  find  it  necessary  to  seek  after 
cheap  bargains,  especially  in  the  purchase  of  such 
things  as  are  not  among  the  more  useful  and  neces- 
sary commodities  of  life.  However,  when  the  print 
is  published,  I  shall  make  the  trial. 

Still,  dear  madam,  if  you  can  represent  life,  it  is  be- 
yond your  power  to  communicate  it.  Christ  alone  is 
the  hfe,  and  a  giver  of  a  most  glorious  life  to  all  those 
who  are  born  from  above.  He  not  only  correctly 
depicts  his  image  upon  the  regenerate  heart,  but  puts 
his  own  life  upon  every  feature  he  creates  within. 
This  is  a  religion  that  never  could  have  been  con- 
trived by  the  art  of  man,  as  it  can  only  be  accom- 
phshed  by  the  power  of  God.  All  other  evidences  of 
the  truth  of  Christianity  seem  to  sink  into  nothing 
when  compared  to  this— the  inspiration  of  the  living 
mind  and  soul  of  Christ,  by  that  faith  which  works 
by  love,  and  makes  us  all  one  with  him.  Without 
this  life,  whatever  our  profession  may  be,  we  are  still 


310  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  LETTERS 

dead  before  him — dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  O 
what  a  brilliant  passage  is  that — "  Ye  are  dead,  and 
your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God  :  when,  there- 
fore, Christ,  ivho  is  our  life,  shall  appear,  we  also 
shall  appear  with  him  in  glory P  Yes,  it  is  Christ 
within  us  that  is  the  hope  of  glory,  commnnicating 
the  divinest  realities  to  the  heart,  and  is  nothing  less 
than  an  infusion  of  heaven  itself,  through  all  the  fa- 
culties of  the  soul,  and  establishing  that  kingdom 
there,  which  is  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

With  very  kind  regards  to  all  your  large  family,  be- 
lieve me  to  be 

Theirs  and  yours  very  sincerely, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

The  last  letter  to  Miss  Sheppard,  on  the  subject  of 
the  print,  contains  a  beautiful  allusion  to  the  image  of 
Christ  on  the  soul  of  the  believer. 

Surry  chapel,  May  7th,  1S27. 
My  dear  Madam, 

I  am  quite  offended  at  myself,  for  not  having  at- 
tended to  your  letter  and  Mr.  Sheppard's  before 
now  ;  but  the  truth  is,  I  have  been  glad  to  make  a 
short  elopement  from  town,  to  get  out  of  a  perpetual 
bustle.  And  now  I  am  returned,  I  find  the  bustle 
worse  than  ever ;  while  a  variety  of  public  meetings 
and  institutions  demand  much  more  of  my  attention 
than  my  increasing  lassitnde,  through  age,  will  enable 
me  to  bestow  upon  them. 

During  this  last  winter,  a  print  has  been  in  circula- 
tion, which  has  met  with  so  large  a  share  of  the  pub- 
lic approbation,  that  I  fear  the  print  recently  publish- 
ed by  you  will  meet  with  a  dull  sale,  at  least  in  this 
metropolis. 

However,  we  must  do  our  best,  while  my  subscrip- 
tion to  your  infant  school  shall  not  be  lessened;  though 


TO  MISS  SHEPPARD.  311 

I  find  the  more  general  preference  given  to  the  other 
print  stands  much  in  my  way  in  my  efforts  to  promote 
the  sale  of  yours:  and,  unfortunately,  that  print  stands 
exhibited  for  sale  at  a  print  shop  nearly  opposite  the 
chapel.  However,  if  we  cannot  do  what  we  would, 
we  must  be  contented  to  do  what  we  can,  while  the 
same  objection  that  exists  in  London  may  not  be  the 
case  elsewhere. 

Above  all  things,  we  should  look  for  that  correct 
pencil,  in  the  hands  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  can  de- 
pict, if  I  may  so  speak,  with  so  much  wisdom  and 
power,  the  sacred  image  of  Jesus  Christ  on  the  re- 
generate heart.  By  him  alone  the  restoration  of  the 
divine  likeness,  which  is  the  beauty  of  holiness,  can 
be  restored  to  the  heart,  bringing  with  it  the  only  evi- 
dence whereby  we  know  that  we  are  born  from  above, 
born  of  the  incorruptible  seed,  which  liveth  and 
abideth  for  ever. 

What  a  blessing,  when  such  a  divine  spirit  runs 
through  the  branches  of  a  large  family,  inspiring  us 
with  that  wisdom  of  holiness,  that  so  powerflilly  and 
wisely  regulates  all  our  footsteps  through  life,  and 
ultimately  lands  us  safely  and  honourably  in  the  king- 
dom of  everlasting  joy,  there  to  see  as  we  are  seen, 
and  know  as  we  are  known,  and  there  to  be  eternally 
with  the  Lord. 

With  kind  regards  to  all  the  family,  I  remain, 
Yours  very  truly  and  sincerely, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

The  praiseworthy  exertions  and  talents  of  Miss 
Sheppard  produced  a  sufficient  profit,  from  the  sale  of 
the  portrait  of  Mr.  Hill,  to  enable  her  to  lay  the 
foundation-stone  of  a  spacious  room  at  Uley,  in  the 
autumn  of  1827,  which  was  opened  in  the  spring  of 
1828.  The  school  consists  of  about  one  hundred  and 
sixty  infants  and  fifty  girls  ;  the  building  is  also  used 
as  a  Sunday  school  for  three  hundred  childi-en.  The 
art  of  painting  has  never  been  consecrated  to  a  more 


312  JOURNEY  TO  WALES. 

truly  Christian  purpose;  and  happy  are  they  who 
possess  the  will  to  devote,  in  like  manner,  to  the  glory 
of  God,  the  gifts  he  has  in  his  providence  bestowed 
on  them. 

Though  occasionally  complaining,  "I  begin  to  get 
old,"  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  made  arrangements,  early  in 
the  year  1827,  for  a  preaching  ramble  in  South  Wales. 
When  excited  by  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  he 
shook  off  the  remembrance  of  his  old  age ;  and,  when 
planning  his  journey  for  this  year,  he  said  to  a  respect- 
able Welsh  minister,  who  v/as  requested  to  reside  in 
London  some  of  the  summer  months — "Being  a,  very 
youn"-  tnan,  I  will  be  one  of  your  supplies  during  part 
of  your  absence."  Indeed,  but  for  the  judicious  in- 
terference of  Mrs.  Hill,  he  would  constantly  have  un- 
dertaken more  than  his  physical  powers  would  have 
allowed  him  to  go  through.  The  ardour  of  his  mind 
\vtas  undiminished,  and  his  zealous  desire  to  win  souls 
to  Christ  evidently  increased  as  he  approached  the 
period  when  he  trusted,  through  faith  and  patience, 
to  meet  his  Redeemer  in  glory.  When  alluding  to 
this  hope,  he  said — "But  if  I  would  reign  with  Christ 
hereafter,  he  must  reign  in  me  here,  and  that  without 
a  rival."  A  rich  vein  of  spirituality  ran,  as  Mr.  Hill 
advanced  in  years,  through  his  general  conversation, 
and  he  seemed  daily  to  ripen  for  heaven,  and  to  long, 
with  unutterable  earnestness,  for  a  deeper  and  deeper 
sense  of  the  Lord's  presence  in  his  soul.  His  was  an 
entire  dedication  to  God,  which  became,  under  the 
divine  blessing,  the  spring  of  almost  unexampled  use- 
fulness, and  was  the  secret  of  that  attraction  which 
drew  around  him  cordial  admirers  of  every  denomi- 
nation, forgetful,  in  contemplating  the  energy  of  one 
who  knew  nothing  among  them,  but  Christ  and  him, 
a'ucified,  of  the  minor  differences  which  divide  those 
who  are  passing  as  pilgrims  throus^h  the  wilderness 
to  an  eternal  home  of  union  and  love. 

During  the  year  1827,  though  gradually  yielding 
to  some  of  the  infirmities  of  old  age,  which  crept  on 


AFFECTION  OF  MR.  HILL  S  HEARERS.  313 

him  by  degrees,  Mr.  Hill  pursued  a  course  of  aston- 
ishing activity.  He  visited  Brighton,  and  parts  of 
Kent  and  Sussex,  in  the  spring ;  and,  after  the  ac- 
customed fatigues  of  London,  went  on  his  proposed 
preaching  excursion  in  South  Wales.  There,  in- 
spired by  scenes  of  nature's  loveliness,  and  by  the 
cordiality  of  those  who  surrounded  him,  he  appeared 
to  forget  the  weight  of  years,  and  the  incumbrance 
of  his  aged  frame.  He  both  caught  and  imparted 
warmth  wherever  he  went  amongst  that  animated 
people,  and  generally  returned  from  his  visits  to  the 
principality,  refreshed  both  in  body  and  mind. 

At  the  great  age  to  which  Mr.  Hill  had  arrived,  it 
was  not  at  all  a  matter  of  surprise,  that  now  and 
then,  before  he  entered  the  pulpit,  he  should  express 
a  fear,  lest  increasing  lassitude  should  cause  him  to 
preach  with  impaired  force  and  effect ;  but  the  wonder 
was,  that  as  soon  as  he  began  to  address  the  people, 
this  apprehension  was  entirely  forgotten.  Somebody 
would,  perhaps,  say  to  him — "  Well,  sir,  notwith- 
standing your  complaint  of  wealoiess,  do  you  know 
how  long  you  preached  this  morning  V — "  Perhaps 
half  an  hour,  or  a  little  more." — "  Why,  sir,  you  were 
more  than  an  hour  in  your  sermon."  He  then  used 
to  look  astonished,  and  say — "  Well,  I  am  sure  I  had 
not  an  idea  of  it — it  was  too  long  for  me,  and  too 
long  for  the  people — but  when  1  am  once  set  a-going 
I  cannot  stop :  I  must  be  shorter  though."  Some- 
times, when  conscious  that  he  had  spoken  at  an  un- 
usual length,  he  said — "  Time  and  strength  too  for- 
bid my  adding  more  ;  but  O  bear  with  me,  while  I 
speak  to  you  of  these  things,  for  I  shall  not  live  much 
longer,  and  you  will  soon  hear  my  voice  no  more." 
An  allusion  to  his  removal  seldom  failed  to  bring 
tears  into  the  eyes  of  his  people,  who  were  constantly 
saying,  when  they  looked  on  his  hoary  hairs  and 
aged  face — "  The  Lord  spare  him  to  us  a  few  years 
more — what  shall  we  do  when  he  is  gone  !"  For 
several  years  before  his  death  he  was  often  contem- 
27 


314  MPk..  JOHN  BROADLEY  WILSON. 

plating  it  as  near  at  hand.  In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  in 
the  autumn  of  1827,  he  says — "  1  am  sorry  to  hear 
you  complain  of  health  :  we  must  all  have  something 
to  bring  us  to  the  grave.  Before  that  time  comes,  O 
that  we  may  be  brought  nearer  to  God  !  No  wonder 
that  I,  at  my  time  of  life,  have  admonitions  in  plenty, 
that  the  time  of  my  departure  is  near  at  hand.  0  for 
grace  to  be  ripe  for  glory !" 

The  feeling  which  marked  every  successive  year 
of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  decline,  is  expressed  in  a  cou- 
plet, written  in  the  first  leaf  of  his  memoranda  of  en- 
gagements for  1828  : 

Dearest  Saviour,  let  me  give, 
All  I  have,  and  am,  to  Thee. 

By  reference  to  his  Almanac,  it  appears  that  in  ac- 
cordance with  this  prayer,  nearly  every  day  was 
indeed  consecrated  to  his  Redeemer's  service.  Being 
entirely  free  from  care  and  anxiety  of  a  worldly 
nature,  he  had  nothing  but  the  weakness  arising  from 
his  great  age,  in  the  way  of  his  holy  pursuits.  In- 
deed, a  special  blessing  seemed  to  rest  upon  all  his 
temporal  affairs,  and  upon  his  family ;  and  the  af- 
fectionate attentions  of  Lord  Hill,  now  resident  in 
London  as  commander  of  the  forces,  added  exceed- 
ingly to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  the  evening  of 
his  days.  Time  had  also  supplied,  with  new  mem- 
bers equally  dear  to  him,  the  places  of  those  friends 
of  his  congregation  whom  he  had  seen  pass  away, 
and  they  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  respect  for 
his  character  and  attention  to  his  comfort.  Amongst 
these  there  was  no  one  to  whom  he  professed  a  more 
cordial  attachment,  than  the  well-known  and  generous 
Mr.  Broadley  Wilson,  of  Clapham,  of  whom  he  used 
to  say — "  I  have  but  one  thing  to  desire — that  he  may 
be  kept  out  of  heaven  a  good  lone:  time,  he  is  so  much 
wanted  on  earth."  In  a  letter  on  business  to  this 
gentleman,  dated  Wotton,  August  4th,  1828,  Mr.  Hill 
thus  assures  him  of  his  sincere  and  well  merited 
friendship — "  This,  however,  [gives  me]  an  oppor- 


CHELTENHAM.  315 

tunity  of  expressing  to  you  my  sentiments  of  high 
regard  and  esteem,  whose  favour  and  attention  are 
so  highly  regarded  by  me.  How  diiferent  are  those 
feehngs  of  affection,  which  are  created  amongf  those 
who  are  one  in  Christ,  to  those  common  ties  of  aflfec- 
tion  which  are  found  among  the  people  of  the  world, 
while  only  swayed  by  worldly  motives  between  each 
other,  to  manifest  their  little  love  of  that  sort  among 
themselves.  O  that  more  of  this  were  manifested  in 
the  church  of  Christ  at  large,  that  the  old  proverb 
may  be  effectually  revived — '  see  how  these  Chris- 
tians love.'  God  is  love,  and  love  is  the  fulfilling  of 
the  laiv." 

"  A  short  time  since,  I  was  invited  to  Cheltenham  ; 
collections  are  wanted  there  a  little  more  than  former- 
ly. The  people  were  astonishingly  attentive,  and 
crowded  the  chapel.  Mr.  Close*  is  truly  faithful,  and 
does  an  abundance  of  good,  while  his  unreserved 
and  frank  behaviour  endears  him  to  ail  who  Imow 
him.  I  was  astonished  when  there,  to  see  in  that 
place  of  dissipation,  the  decent  and  orderly  appear- 
ance which  is  exhibited  on  the  sabbath  day  :  the 
churches,  if  not  all  other  places,  are  crowded,  while 
not  a  shop  is  open  all  the  town  over.  One  thing, 
however,  was  wanting  ;  yoii  were  not  there,  nor  can 
I  be  here  long.  Can  an  old  man,  just  eighty- four, 
wonder  that  his  strength  decays,  and  that  I  cannot  do 
the  things  I  yet  would  ;  still  I  trust  I  feel  the  desire 
to  do  all  I  can,  but  how  poorly  done  !  God  be  mer- 
ciful  to  me  a  sinner P 

Sentiments  such  as  are  contained  in  this  letter, 
!  were  the  genuine  feelings  of  Mr.  Hill's  mind,  arising 
from  true  humility  of  heart  before  God,  and  a  con- 
sciousness that  the  best  of  men  must  acknowledge 
themselves  to  have  been  unprofitable  servants.  In 
his  latter  days,  this  lowly  sense  of  himself  never  de- 
stroyed his  general  cheerfulness  before  the  world, 

*  The  active  and  much  respected  perpetual  Curate  of  Chel- 
tenham. 


316  FIDELITY  OF  MR.  HILL  S  SERVANTS. 

which  he  not  only  enjoyed  himself,  but  largely  dif- 
fused ;  imparting  to  others  a  portion  of  his  buoyant 
and  animated  spirits.  This  caused  him  to  be  re- 
ceived with  smiles  wherever  he  appeared  ;  and  when 
he  attended  the  public  meetings  in  London,  he  was 
instantly  surrounded  by  a  host  of  friends  pressing  for- 
ward to  greet  him,  or  to  hand  him  from  his  carriage 
and  assist  him  to  the  platform.  On  these  days,  all 
seemed  pleasure  and  enjoyment,  save  now  and  then 
to  his  worthy  and  honest  coachman,  who  was  occa- 
sionally gazed  at  by  people,  whispering — "  look,  look, 
there  is  Rowland  Hill's  carriage,  and  that  is  the 
highwayman  he  made  his  servant."  When  told  of 
this,  his  master  used  to  laugh  and  say —  "  what  swal- 
loivs  people  must  have,  to  credit  such  stories  !"  The 
trutli  was,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  singularly  fortunate 
in  having  the  comfort,  in  his  latter  years,  of  attached, 
faithful,  and  upright  servants,  who  seemed  to  regard 
his  interests  as  though  they  were  their  own. 


PROPHECY.  317 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


PROPHECY. 


I  HAVE  before  stated,  that  during  the  whole  of  his 
long  and  active  life,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  never  altered 
his  views  of  doctrine,  in  any  essential  particular.  It 
was  therefore  to  be  expected,  that  in  common  with 
the  majority  of  sound  and  experienced  divines,  he 
should  look  with  serious  apprehension  on  the  crude 
speculations,  wild  theories,  and  visionary  interpreta- 
tions of  prophecy,  which  a  few  years  ago  glared  forth 
suddenly  on  the  Christian  world,  and  seemed  almost 
to  extinguish,  for  a  time,  the  gentler  effulgence  of  long 
received  truth.  Too  many  appeared  to  forget,  that 
the  Bible  is  not  only  a  guide  to  man,  but  the  sacred 
and  mysterious  book  of  God ;  and  that  while  the 
light  to  lead  believers  is  diffused,  like  the  beams  of  a 
sun,  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  new  creation, 
Jehovah's  unapproachable  eternal  throne  is  shrouded 
by  clouds  and  darkness,  indicating  his  presence,  but 
impenetrable  by  mortal  eye.  When  it  pleases  the  in- 
comprehensible author  of  truth,  to  unravel  his  own 
enigmas,  the  divine  prescience  is  acknowledged  and 
adored  ;  but  it  is  the  province  of  Him,  who  gathered 
the  darkness  visible  around  himself  to  chase  away  its 
shades,  and  to  open  at  his  own  time,  and  in  his 
own  way,  the  seals  of  prophecy.  Wisely  indeed 
liath  the  Father  kept  the  times  and  the  seasons  in  his 
own  power  ;  but  to  show  the  omniscience  of  infinity, 
he  has  recorded  the  divine  purposes  in  words  unin- 
telligible, till  explained  by  their  accomplishment,  when 
it  is  clearly  made  manifest,  that  all  the  complicated 
movements  of  time,  have  been  regulated  by  the  fore- 
27* 


318  PROPHECY. 

knowledge  and  wisdom  of  God,  to  exhibit  which,  he 
has  recorded  them  in  the  written  vohime  of  his  im- 
fathomable  decrees.  Every  riddle  of  earthly  invention 
may  be  successfully  investigated  by  the  ingenuity  of 
man  ;  but  God  alone  can  solve  the  dark  problems 
of  his  all-wise  designs,  the  obscurity  of  which,  till 
fully  made  known,  and  plainness  when  perfectly 
disclosed,  prove  at  once  the  boundlessness  of  divine, 
and  the  finiteness  of  human  intelligence.  This  view 
of  the  contents  of  the  sacred  pages,  seems  to  me 
to  convey  to  the  mind  an  indelible  conviction  of  the 
impossibility  that  they  could  have  been  the  invention 
of  a  creature,  and  ouofht  to  have  its  due  weiHit  with 
those  who  do  not  yet  know,  by  the  unction  ot  the 
holy  one,  the  truth  of  the  deep  things  of  God,  and 
who  have  no  wit?iess  in  themselves  that  they  have 
Christ,  the  sum  and  substance  of  the  scriptures,  within 
them,  as  the  hope  of  glory. 

I  might  also  observe,  that  many  of  the  later  pro- 
ductions on  prophecy,  have  not  even  the  charm  of 
novelty  to  reconmiend  them ;  nor  is  it  at  all  a  new 
device  of  the  author  of  error,  to  attempt  to  draw  us 
away  from  the  cross  of  Christ,  by  splendid  antici- 
pations of  the  speedy  visible  erection  of  his  throne 
on  earth.  The  dangers  with  which  such  speculations 
were  fraught,  presented  themselves  at  a  glance  to 
the  mind  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  and  I  trust  the  re- 
marks of  so  aged,  experienced,  and  consistent  a 
Christian  minister,  will  be  received  with  attention, 
and  become  useful  to  many  who  have  been  too 
prone  to  form  sudden  and  mistaken  opinions.  He 
wrote  me  a  long  letter  on  the  subject,  in  which  he 
says,  "  all  divine  truths,*  among  such  as  are  led  by 
the  spirit  of  truth,  are  at  once  instinctively  admitted 
li'ithoiit  controversy ;  but  yet  such  as  suppose  they  take 
the  Bible  for  their  guide,  are  too  frequently  misguided 
by  their  own  imaginations.  There  is  a  deep  and  safe 
passage  between  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  and  none  but 
*  He  meant  of  course  such  as  are  really  necessary  to  salvation. 


REMARKS  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  .319 

rash  and  wanton  seamen  are  in  danger  while  they 
pass.  Mr.  Ward,  of  Iver,  has  pleased  me  hugely,  by 
erecting  a  needed  light-house  for  some  of  the  present 
day.  They  who  presume  to  prophesy  upon  pro- 
phecy, have,  in  my  humble  opinion,  ventured  upon 
very  dangerous  ground.  It  appears  to  me  most 
evident,  that  prophecy  is  not  to  be  fully  understood 
till  after  its  accomplishment.  How  mysterious  were 
all  those  prophecies  respecting  the  kingdom  and 
coming  of  our  Lord,  and  even  to  the  disciples  them- 
selves, till  after  the  day  of  Pentecost ;  and  afterwards, 
how  plain  and  lucid  are  they  made  to  appear.  But 
some  fertile  imaginations  think  they  have  discovered, 
not  only  when  the  millennial  glories  are  to  appear, 
but  seem  to  have  depicted  upon  their  imaginations, 
all  the  pomp  and  visible  splendour  of  the  personal 
coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  upon  the  earth ;  and  in  my 
opinion  also,  [in  a  manner]  ill  suited  to  that  spiritual 
reign,  which  some  spiritual  minds  would  rather  wish 
to  expect. 

"  It  is  my  opinion,  that  Mr,  Ward's  paper  contains 
such  wise  and  needed  remarks  in  the  present  day,  as 
may  well  deserve  our  most  serious  consideration.  Is 

it  true,  that  a  man  so  lovely  as ,  and  in  other 

respects  so  wise  and  good,  is  among  the  number  of 
those  who  are  in  the  pursuit  of  such  hazardous  spe- 
culations ?  [This  is  not  to  be]  wondered  at,  in  one 
possessed  of  such  a  wild  and  staring  imagination  as 

seems  to  envelope  the  mind  of ,  or  the  whimsical 

mind  of  young ;  but  that  others  of  a  more  solid 

understanding,  should  prefer  to  have  such  windmills 
whisking  about  their  heads,  is  strange  indeed.  If  I 
had  not  conceived  that  there  might  be  a  dangerous 
tendency  in  these  speculations,  I  should  feel  less  con- 
cerned ;  but  it  is  to  be  feared,  after  they  have  been 
misguided  in  their  speculations  and  calculations  on 
revelation,  they  may  give  up  revelation  altogether. 
We  cannot  sink  too  low  in  humility,  nor  yet  rise  too 
high  in  heavenly-mi ndedness,  but  we  may  soon  be 


330  CHELTENHAM. 

lost  in  the  wilderness  of  needless  speculations.  Such 
as  are  sober-minded  will  keep  within  their  depth,  and 
when  the  Lord  directs  us  to  launch  forth,  we  may  do 
it  with  safety.  If  we  are  wise  according  as  it  is  writ- 
ten, we  shall  be  profitably  wise ;  but  if  we  want  to 
be  wise  beyond  what  is  written,  we  shall  smart  for 
our  folly." 

The  year  1828  passed  away  without  any  particular 
event  aifecting  Mr.  Rowland  Hill.  In  the  autumn, 
Mrs.  Hill  said  of  him,  in  a  letter  to  me — "  he  is  just 
j^one  to  Bath,  to  preach  for  one  Sunday ;  from  thence 
he  will  return  here,  (Wotton,)  and  visit  Bristol  for 
three  Sundays,  and  return  to  town  after  the  second 
Sunday  in  November.  He  appears  as  well  in  health 
as  usual,  particularly  while  preaching."  At  Bath,  he 
usually  preached  in  the  chapel  of  his  friend  Mr.  Jay, 
an  individual  whose  piety,  preaching  abilities,  and  re- 
ligious writings,  are  well  known  to  the  public.  He 
for  many  years  filled  the  place  of  Mr.  Hill  at  Surry 
chapel,  during  part  of  the  time  of  his  absence,  much 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people  who  attended  him. 
With  minds  very  differently  constituted,  and  of  alto- 
gether opposite  habits,  these  two  devoted  ministers 
sustained  a  long  friendship  in  the  most  perfect  har- 
mony, constrained  towards  each  other  by  the  common 
love  of  their  Saviour.  Mr.  Hill,  when  speaking  of 
the  easy  flow  of  Mr.  Jay's  well  arranged  discoTirseSj 
used  to  say,  "  he  blows  the  silv^er  trumpet,"  and  fre- 
quently commended  his  ever  increasing  spirituality 
in  preaching,  and  the  unspotted  consistency  of  his 
life. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  diu-ing  his  absence  from  London 
this  year,  spent  four  Sundays  at  Cheltenham,  where 
prodigious  crowds  thronged  the  place  in  which  he 
preached.  It  was  remarked,  that  he  had  never  been 
lieard  to  declare  the  gospel  of  salvation  with  greater 
solemnity  and  power,  than  on  these  occasions.  His 
sermons  were  enriclied  with  all  the  maturity  of  age, 
comb  hied  with  the  visfour  of  middle  life,  to  which  was 


RELIGION  A  REALITY.  321 

added  the  affecting  consideration,  that  he  should  pro- 
bably never  again  proclaim  the  tidings  of  redeeming 
love,  in  that  place  of  fashionable  resort.  He  said  in 
his  droll  way,  "I  am  going  to  Cheltenham;  I  will  try 
and  be  upon  myP's  and  Q,'s;"  and  indeed  he  did,  by 
all  accounts,  seem  carefully  to  watch  and  weigh  every 
expression  that  fell  from  his  lips.  He  came  home 
much  refreshed  by  his  visit  there,  and  full  of  com- 
mendation of  the  zeal  and  activity  of  the  clergy, 
whose  labours  he  had  witnessed.  He  said  to  me,  "I 
love  to  go  to  church  at  C'heltenham,  and  I  went 
whenever  I  could,  all  the  while  I  was  there."  His  often 
repeated  prayer  at  this  time  was — "  O  that  we  may 
feel  more  of  the  divine  life  in  our  own  souls  when 
preaching  the  word  of  life  to  others."  He  remarked 
also  in  a  letter  to  me — "  Nothing  can  be  effectually 
done  in  the  ministration  of  the  word  of  life,  but  by 
the  Holy  Spirit.  While  some  explain  away  this  glo- 
rious truth  to  mean  nothing,  or  next  to  nothing,  and 
others  caricature  the  same  by  mad  and  enthusiastic 
reveries,  it  is  still  nothing  less  than  the  wisdom  which 
is  fi'om  above,  which  converts  fools  because  of  trans- 
gression, and  makes  them  wise  for  their  everlasting 
good."  "  Preaching,"  he  frequently  observed,  "  is 
poor  dead  work,  unless  we  are  under  the  life-giving 
influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost — -O  to  feel  the  potcer — 
the  life  of  religion — it  is  not  an  imaginary  thing — it 
is  a  divine  reality."  "  A  Christian,"  he  said  one  day, 
after  sitting  for  some  time  absorbed  in  reflection,  "  is 
one  (O  what  a  mystery)  who  has  God  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit, in  his  soul — a  temple  of  the  living  God — cleanse 
me,  O  Lord,  that  thou  mayest  dwell  in  my  heart. 
What  slight  conceptions  have  those  of  the  sublime 
and  glorious  work  of  divine  grace,  who  fritter  reli- 
gion away  into  a  litde  scrap  of  morality."  Now  and 
then,  after  a  long  silence,  he  exclaimed,  "  my  petition 
is — Lord,  teach  me  to  hate  sin  more  and  more  ;"  and 
I  remember  once  in  a  sermon,  he  raised  his  voice, 
and  in  a  most  emphatic  and  dignified  manner  asked 


322  1829.       VISIT  TO  MR.  HILL  AT  WOTTON. 

the  congregation — "what  say  you  to  this  prayer — 
Lord,  let  us  rather  die  than  sinT 

In  a  letter  to  me,  dated  January  12th,  1829,  after 
kindly  observing — "  You  talked  of  a  journey  in  the 
spring,  and  that  then  you  should  again  see  London, 
which  gives  us  a  hope  that  we  shall  then  again  see 
you  and  yours,"  he  adds,  "  Considering  that  we  are 
Ijoth  such  very  old  pilgrims,  almost  at  our  journey's 
end,  we  ought  to  be  very  thankful  we  are  as  we  are, 
continued  in  health.  O  to  bring  forth  fruit  in  old 
age !"  His  frame  of  mind  at  this  time  seemed  pe- 
culiarly peaceful  and  happy,  and  he  wrote  in  his 
memorandum  book,  as  one  rejoicing  in  this  bless- 
ing- 
Hail  !  lovely  Peace,  with  balmy  wings, 
'Tis  the  sweet  boon  the  Spirit  brings. 

And  I  recollect  his  frequently  saying — "  What  a  glo- 
rious promise — The  peace  of  God,  ivhich  passeth  all 
understanding,  shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds 
through  Christ  Jesus.^''  The  spring  of  this  year  was 
marked  by  no  particular  incident  in  the  career  of 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  and  he  went  to  Wotton  as  usual, 
after  the  period  of  tiie  meetings  in  London.  In 
August  I  paid  him  a  visit  in  Gloucestershire.  On 
the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Sidney  and  myself  at  Wotton, 
we  found  him  from  home,  but  Mrs.  Hill  expected 
him  in  a  few  days,  from  a  journey  he  had  taken  into 
Devonshire.  At  Devonport  he  had  been  followed 
by  an  immense  throng  of  hearers,  who  were  impress- 
ed with  a  mournful  foreboding  that  it  would  be  his 
last  visit.  His  residence  there  was  made  very  agree- 
able to  him,  by  the  great  kindness  and  attention 
of  Lord  and  Lady  Northesk,  as  well  as  by  the  civili- 
ties of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  and  he 
returned  home  with  many  pleasing  recollections  of 
his  tour.  As  soon  as  his  voice  was  heaid  in  the 
house,  kindly  asking  after  his  people,  Mrs.  Hill  said 
— "  Now  you  shall  take  him  by  surprise  " — and  I 
never  shall  forget  the  kindness,  the  cordiality,  the  ani- 


BIRTH-DAY  SERMON.  323 

mation  of  his  welcome.  We  inquired  about  his  jour- 
ney, and  he  spoke  of  the  civiUties  he  had  received, 
the  numbers  who  had  heard  him,  and  the  support  he 
had  met  with  in  his  labours,  but  added — "  When  some 
people  came  and  told  me,  with  tears  of  joy,  that  they 
were  awakened  under  my  preaching  many  years  ago, 
when  I  was  in  those  parts,  it  was  almost  more  than 
the  old  man  could  bear."  He  generally,  when  his 
feelings  overcame  him,  relieved  his  mind  by  changing 
the  subject,  and,  turning  to  me,  he  said — "  Sidney,  I 
hope  you  are  going  to  preach  in  the  church  here  to- 
morrow." I  answered,  that  the  clergyman  had  invited 
me  to  do  so  in  the  afternoon,  and  that  I  was  to  read 
prayers  in  the  morning.  "  That's  right,"  he  replied, 
"we  will  shut  up  our  place."  Accordingly  I  found, 
on  returning  to  his  house  after  the  morning  service, 
that  he  had  said  at  the  conclusion  of  his  sermon — 
"  My  relation,  Mr.  Sidney,  will  preach  at  the  church 
this  afternoon,  so  this  place  will  be  closed,  that  you 
may  all  go."  Obedient  to  his  wishes,  the  people  went, 
and  the  tine  old  church  was,  in  consequence,  crowd- 
ed to  excess. 

On  this  sabbath  Mr.  Hill  entered  his  eighty-fifth 
year,  and  under  a  solemn  impression  that  it  would  be 
his  last  birth-day,  selected  for  the  evening  text — Death 
is  swallowed  irp  in  victory.  His  countenance  was  un- 
usually pale,  but  exceedingly  expressive  of  the  train 
of  serious  and  devout  ideas  that  was  passing  through 
his  mind,  and  of  the  awe  with  which  he  contemplated 
the  near  approach  of  the  day  when  his  account  must 
be  rendered  up  to  God.  His  calm  but  lofty  tone  be- 
spoke the  holy  repose  of  his  own  bosom.  It  was  like 
the  half-hour  before  sun-set,  in  the  midst  of  nature's 
most  majestic  scenery,  when  there  is  not  a  breath  to 
agitate  the  frailest  leaf,  or  ripple  the  glassy  smooth- 
ness of  the  water's  surface — it  was  the  sublime  of  tran- 
(|uillity.  Death  appeared  awful,  and  judgment  appal- 
ling ;  but  his  soul  was  composed,  in  the  hope  that  the 
destroyer  had  been  deprived  of  his  conquest,  and  the 


324  BIRTH-DAY,  1829. 

judge  propitiated,  through  faith  in  the  atoning  virtue 
of  an  all-sufficient  sacrifice.  This  earth  presents  not  a 
spectacle  of  equal  grandeur  to  that  of  a  Christian,  who 
has  power  to  wrest  the  dart  of  the  king  of  terrors 
from  his  hand,  on  the  very  confines  of  the  eternal 
world,  and  who  exults  in  the  triumph  of  being  made 
more  than  conqueror,  not  by  his  own  strength,  but 
through  him  who  has  loved  him,  and  redeemed  him 
by  his  blood.  True  grace  ennobles  and  dignifies  the 
soul,  because  the  paltry  thing  self  is  cast  into  the  dust, 
and  the  glory  of  the  victory  ascribed  to  him  alone,  who 
sitteth  on  the  throne  till  all  his  foes  be  made  his  foot- 
stool. Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  happily  enabled  thus  to 
exult  in  the  contemplation  of  his  deatli,  for  to  him  it 
was  in  reality  deprived  of  its  alarms.  He  shed  no  tear 
on  this  birth-day,  but  the  people  shed  many :  and  one 
poor  man,  devoted  to  his  ministry,  said  to  me — "Sir, 
I  cannot  bear  the  thought  of  losing  him — I  wish  we 
could  jnit  him,  hack  about  forty  years!"  But  the 
finger  on  the  dial-plate  of  human  life  is  capable  of  no 
retrograde  motion,  and  blessed  are  they  who,  like  my 
venerable  relative,  watch  its  onward  course  with  a 
serene  and  heavenly  peace,  as  it  approximates  towards 
the  completion  of  its  circle.  Genuine  faith  is  always 
unmingled  with  presumption ;  and  this  was  eminently 
the  character  of  the  blessed  hope  in  the  breast  of  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill,  who  trembled  when  he  looked  on  his 
human  infirmities;  but  when  he  could  look  off*  from 
the  creature,  upon  him,  who  having  begun  a  good 
work  in  us,  will  complete  it  unto  the  end,  he  was  en- 
abled to  rejoice  in  the  prospect  of  death,  with  joy  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory. 

During  our  stay  at  Wotton,  a  Church  Missionary 
meeting  was  held  at  Uley,  and  Mr.  Hill  determined  to 
attend  it,  that  he  might  express  his  interest  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  cause.     Speaking  to  me  of  tbe  Lon- 

*  I  recollect  hearing  a  clergj-man,  equally  distingiiished  for 
learning  and  piety,  say — "No  expression  in  the  New  Testament 
comforts  ine  like  the  word  adoj'covrcs,  looking  o/?'self  imto  Christ." 


CHURCH  MISSIONARY  MEETING.  326 

don  Missionary  Society,  he  said,  in  a  jocular  way— 
"  You  churchmen  have  left  our  society  in  the  lurch, 
but  I  shall  go  for  all  that."  When  we  had  descended 
into  the  lovely  vale  of  Uley,  we  arrived  at  the  door  of 
a  neat,  plain,  and  commodious  building,  and  the 
coachman,  by  whom  I  was  sitting  on  the  box  of  Mr. 
Hill's  carriage,  observed  to  me — "  Sir,  this  is  the 
school-room  that  was  built  out  of  the  sale  of  my  mas- 
ter's picture."  On  entering  the  room,  I  perceived  at 
the  end  opposite  the  temporary  platform,  an  engrav- 
ing of  Mr.  Hill,  framed  and  glazed,  a  dehghtful  testi- 
mony to  the  usefulness  both  of  the  artist,  and  the  sub- 
ject on  which  she  had  so  happily  and  successfully  ex- 
ercised her  sldll.  When  Mr.  Hill  rose  to  speak,  the 
most  profound  interest  was  immediately  manifested, 
and  he  addressed  the  persons  present  like  an  aged 
patriarch,  the  days  of  whose  pilgrimage  were  nearly 
ended.  He  was,  he  said,  connected  with  another  so- 
ciety, in  whose  successes  he  was  sure  every  one  who 
heard  him  truly  rejoiced,  but  he  did  not  less,  on  that 
account,  delight  to  join  the  exemplary  individuals 
around  him.  "  I  love,"  he  added,  "  to  see  the  zeal 
which  now  animates  the  exertions  of  the  vigilant 
ministers  of  the  church  ;  and  O  let  an  old  man,  just 
dropping  into  the  grave,  give  you  his  blessing,  and 
urge  you  to  abound  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  while 
you  have  youth  and  strength  to  labour."  He  after- 
wards dined  with  a  neighbouring  clergyman,  and  was 
as  full  of  anecdote  and  life  as  I  ever  remember  to 
have  seen  him. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  concluded  the  year  1829  with 
fewer  sufferings,  from  the  feebleness  of  age,  than  were 
even  indicated  by  his  appearance,  but  he  complained 
of  much  inconvenience  from  dimness  of  sight.  Early 
in  1830, 1  received  a  letter  from  him,  written  with  an 
almost  youthful  vivacity. 
28 


326  LETTER  OP  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

ISurrT/  chapel,  February  16^A,  1830. 
Dear  Sidney, 

Though  I  have  taken  up  my  pen  to  write,  yet  the 
day  is  so  dark  through  fog,  and  my  eyes  so  dim 
through  age,  that  I  can  scarcely  see  what  I  write. 
No  wonder  at  my  time  of  hfe,  through  the  severity  of 
the  season,  I  have  been  nearly  kept  a  prisoner  at  home 
almost  ever  since  my  arrival  in  town  for  the  Avinter. 
My  old  wife  came  to  town  with  a  bad  cold,  but  is  now 
much  better,  but  while  this  weather  lasts,  keeps  within 
doors,  by  way  of  prevention.  So  much  for  ourselves. 
And  what  shall  I  say  next — for  I  feel  so  dull  and  stu- 
pid, that  I  scarcely  know  what  to  say  ?  O  yes  !  this 
thought  just  now  bites  me — A  few  thoughts  for  a 
young  minister.  One  embittered  anonymous  pub- 
lisher says — "  I  look  upon  myself  to  be  as  great  a  man 
as  the  apostle  Paul."  Well,  that  is  pride  with  a  wit- 
ness ! — for  I  really  think,  taking  him  as  a  whole,  a 
greater  man  never  lived,  since  his  days  to  the  present 
day.  Yet  I  think  both  you  and  I  may  be  humble 
imitators  of  that  which  we  can  never  reach.  First, 
I  would  wish  to  imitate  his  style.  O  the  vanity  of  the 
old  man,  to  try  to  get  up  to  the  style  of  St.  Paul ! 
Stop  a  little  before  you  bestow  your  censure — I  never 
thought  of  getting  np  to  his  style,  but  still  I  will  aim 
at  it,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  by  getting  dovm  to  his 
style.  Only  read  him  from  1  Cor.  i.  17,  and  tlirough- 
out  all  the  second  chapter,  and  then  ask  who  is  likely 
to  do  the  most  good  to  the  living  church  of  Christ  ? 
Those  egregious  doctors  of  the  sounding  brass  tribe, 
may  blow  away  with  turgid  trumpery,  and  swell 
away  till  they  burst  with  pride,  and  the  tinkling 
cymbal  ^(^/-/«^  musicians,  may  try  to  tickle  the  fancy 
of  such  half-witted  admirers  as  mistake  sound  for 
sense.  But  still  how  different  that  wise,  that  digni- 
fied simplicity  of  speech  the  apostle  used,  when  he 
preached  the  gospel  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down 
from  heaven,  which  so  effectually  wrought  on  the 
heart  of  all  them  who  believed  :  and  though  we 


LETTER  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  327 

should  prove  ourselves  proud  indeed,  if  we  should 
ever  fancy  that  we  could  reach  a  style  like  this,  yet 
to  aim  at  such  a  model  will  still  be  our  highest  wis- 
dom, and  this  we  shall  never  reach  in  any  measure, 
but  as  blest  with  that  wisdom  and  spiritual  under- 
standing which  is  entirely  from  above. 

I  [was]  reminded  of  this,  since  indisposition  has 
prevented  my  going  through  the  whole  of  tlie  ser- 
vices on  the  Sabbath-day,  when  I  heard  one  of  the 
auxiliaries  exhibit  too  much  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tink- 
lefs  style.  O  how  disgusting  to  see  a  man  in  the 
garb  of  a  minister,  transmogrified  at  least  halfway 
towards  a  monkey,  by  his  own  silly  pride  and  self- 
conceit  !  O  how  I  wish  and  pray  for  that  man,  in 
my  fast  declining  days,  whose  wisdom  and  spirit- 
uality, whose  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity,  and 
[heart]  fired  with  a  seraph's  zeal,  might  [enable  him 
to]  spring  upon  the  prey,  and  carry  all  before  him. 
How  glad  should  I  be 

*  *  *  *  *  *         * 

[of  such  a  one]  from  some  of  your  clerical  tribe,  wno 
in  the  fulness  of  his  holy  zeal,  pants  for  a  little  more 
liberty  than  the  church  allows. 

******* 
But  O  for  more  of  the  outpouring  of  the  spirit  of 
Christ  among  us  !     But  as  Mrs.  H.  has  somewhat  to 
add with  hearty  love  to  you  both,  be- 
lieve me  to  be, 

Yours  most  affectioriately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

This  letter  was  written  under  the  disadvantages 
mentioned  in  it,  which  caused  the  omissions  I  have 
endeavoured  to  supply.  Indeed  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's 
eyesight  was  becoming  very  indistinct,  and  he  was 
for  nearly  two  years  before  his  death,  obliged  to  die 
tate  to  an  amanuensis,  which  he  did  with  an  ease  and 
fluency  truly  surprising  at  his  age.  His  infirmities  at 
this  time  were  not  allowed  to  be  any  plea  for  repose. 


328  BIBLE  SOCIETY,  1830. 

Mrs.  Hill,  in  a  letter  to  me,  dated  April  30th,  1830, 
says — "  Mr.  Hill,  notwithstanding  a  very  bad  cold, 
started  yesterday  for  a  fortnight's  tour  in  Kent,"  and 
he  appeared  much  better  for  the  journey  on  his  re- 
turn, though  he  had  been  very  active  in  preacliing. 
When  I  arrived  in  London  in  May,  I  had  the  happiness 
to  fhid  him  wonderfully  well  in  health,  and  as  full  of 
holy  zeal  as  ever.  On  the  anniversary  of  the  Bible 
Society,  he  said  to  me  at  breakfast — "  Sidney,  are  you 
going  to  the  Bible  meeting  to-day — because  I  mean  to 
go — I  wish  to  be  there  once  more  ?"  Somebody  sug- 
gested that  the  fatigue  might  be  too  much  for  him, 
when  he  laughed,  and  said — "  I  tell  you  what,  I  will 
go,  so  there  is  an  end  of  it :  ring  the  bell,  and  tell 
them  to  get  the  carriage  ready  directly."  We  arrived 
late  ;  the  great  room  in  Freemasons'-Hall  was  full, 
and  a  speaker  was  addressing  the  assembly.  Mr. 
Hill  entered  with  a  firm  step,  requiring  no  other  assist- 
ance but  my  arm  ;  and  the  instantaneous  bursts  of  ap- 
plause that  succeeded  the  announcement  of  his  name, 
and  continued  even  after  he  had  reached  the  platform, 
seemed  almost  to  overpower  him.  He  was  called  on 
to  move  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  to  the  vice-presi- 
dents, and  rose  amidst  reiterated  plaudits,  with  a  dig- 
nity of  manner  well  suited  to  his  age  and  character. 
He  was  much  embarrassed  when  he  commenced,  but 
soon  rallied,  to  pay  a  well-merited  compliment  to  the 
excellent  prelates  who  were  among  the  subjects  of  his 
motion,  and  to  the  scriptural  tone  of  the  service  of  the 
church.  At  length  he  recovered  altogether,  and  with 
a  look  of  humour,  which  soon  communicated  its  in- 
fluence to  his  hearers,  he  drew  up,  and  said — "  I  once 
did,  indeed,  hear  of  a  clergyman  who  made  an  apology 
for  being  at  a  Bible  Society.  An  apology  for  being  at 
a  Bible  Society  !  Well,  then,  he  should  make  an  apo- 
logy for  reading  the  liturgy,  which  is  so  full  of  the 
Bible ;  he  should  make  an  apology  for  reading  the 
Psalms ;  and  then  he  should  make  an  apology  for 
reading  the  first  and  second  lessons.     Next,  he  should 


MR.  WILBERFORCE.  329 

make  an  apology  for  reading  the  ten  commandments, 
and  another  for  reading  the  epistles  and  gospels.  In 
short,  if  he  did  his  duty,  he  would  have  a  great  many 
too  many  apologies  to  make,  for  a  great  part  of  his 
duty  is  to  read  the  Bible.  I  therefore  conceive  that 
our  venerable  prelates  do  themselves  great  honour  by 
attending  here  to-day,  since  they  preside  over  a  church 
which  has  so  much  of  the  Bible  in  its  public  service." 
To  this  he  added  much  in  a  grave  and  solemn  tone, 
praying  that  the  bishops  might  long  live  to  put  their 
hands  on  those  who  should  yearn  over  souls  in  the 
bowels  of  Jesus  Christ,  declaring  that  he  should  re- 
joice on  his  death-bed  in  the  recollection,  that  one  of 
his  last  speeches  had  been  made  in  behalf  of  the  Bible 
Society,  and  concluding  with  his  blessing.  The  effect 
of  Mr.  Hill's  speech,  heightened  by  his  dignified  and 
venerable  appearance,  was  adverted  to  with  real  feel- 
ing by  those  who  succeeded  him.  Amongst  others 
who  applauded  him,  I  was  particularly  struck  with  the 
Christian  joy  and  admiration  that  beamed  upon  the 
countenance  of  Mr.  Wilberforce,  the  expression  of 
which,  when  lighted  up,  indicated  a  mind  full  of 
wisdom,  generosity,  and  kindness.  Mr.  Hill  remark- 
ed of  him—"  I  do  not  know  the  good  quality  that 
dear  man  does  not  possess,  and  how  such  a  multi- 
tude of  excellences  could  ever  have  been  condensed 
into  one  human  being,  is  to  me  the  greatest  miracle 
of  nature  I  ever  saw,  I  have  known  him  many  years, 
and  never  did  I  see  in  him  one  thing  I  did  not  love, 
and  yet  every  time  I  see  him,  I  think  I  find  something 
in  him  to  love  more."  Lord  Teignmouth  was  pre- 
vented by  illness  from  being  present  at  this  meeting, 
but  he  was  sufficiently  recovered  to  call  on  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill  about  a  fortnight  after.  I  was  present  at 
the  interview,  and  truly  can  I  say,  the  whole  heart  of 
the  president  of  the  Bible  Society  appeared  to  be  in 
that  sacred  cause.  I  remember  an  observation  which 
he  made — "  O  Mr.  Hill,  in  a  few  years  more,  into 
what  insignificance  will  the  followers  of  this  world's 
28* 


330  LORD  TEIGNMOUTH. 

ambitious  projects  sink,  compared  with  the  true  great- 
ness of  the  simple  servant  of  Christ,  or  missionary  to 
the  heathen,  who,  in  defiance  of  all  reproach,  has 
spent  his  devoted  life  in  spreading  the  gospel !"  It 
was  gratifying  to  see  this  venerable  nobleman  and  the 
aged  subject  of  this  memoir,  entering  into  a  work  so 
great  and  glorious,  with  an  energy  no  earthly  object 
<;-ould  have  inspired. 


LAST  ILLNESS  OP  MRS.  HILL.  33] 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

LAST  ILLNESS  OF  MRS.  HILL. 

Though  the  severe  operation  to  which  Mrs.  Row- 
land Hill  submitted  with  so  much  fortitude  was  the 
means  of  preserving  her  hfe  for  several  years,  her 
frame  never  fully  recovered  the  shock  it  received. 
During  the  spring  of  1830,  she  often  expressed  a 
conviction  that  her  earthly  career  was  drawing  to  a 
close,  a  foreboding  which  was  unhappily  realized 
shortly  after  her  departure  from  London.  Her  health 
suddenly  gave  way  during  the  summer,  and  gradu- 
ally declined  to  the  day  of  her  death.  The  last  let- 
ter I  ever  received  from  her,  and  probably  the  last 
she  ever  dictated,  is  in  the  hand-writing  of  Mr.  Hill's 
confidential  servant,  Mr.  Charles  Goring.  It  is  as 
follows : — 

Wotton,  July  20th,  1830. 
My  dear  Sidney, 

Not  knowing  till  now  what  my  movements  were 
likely  to  be,  prevented  my  writing  or  allowing  Charles 
to  write  to  you  before,  according  to  your  desire.  I 
am  sorry  to  acquaint  you  that  my  health  is  worse 
than  when  you  left  me  in  London.  I  have  just  been 
to  Gloucester  to  consult  Dr.  Baron,  who,  from  my 
great  age,  is  I  believe  doubtful  of  my  restoration  to 
health.  I  am,  at  present,  no  better  for  his  advice, 
and  am  extremely  weak,  scarcely  able  to  go  up  or 
down  stairs.  By  the  doctor's  advice,  I  have  relin- 
quished all  thoughts  of  going  to  the  sea.  He  also 
says  I  must  be  kept  as  quiet  as  possible.  May  the 
Lord  prepare  me  for  his  will,  whether  it  be  for  life 


332  LAST  ILLNESS  OF  MRS.  HILL. 

or  death.     I  am  glad  to  tell  you  Mr.  Hill  is  as  well 
as  can  be  expected.     With  our  united  love  to  your- 
self and  Mrs.  Sidney,  who  I  hope  is  much  better, 
I  am,  dear  Sidney, 

Yours  affectionately, 

M.  HILL. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  August  her  illness 
became  alarming,  and  the  mournful  tidings  of  her 
approaching  dissolution  were  thus  communicated  to 
me  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill. 

Wotton,  August  I2tk,  1830. 
Dear  Sidney, 

I  am  now  passing  through  deep  waters,  and  I  feel 
myself  almost  overwhelmed  by  them.  I  fear  the  in- 
creasing debility,  which  of  late  has  been  making  a 
rapid  progress  upon  Mrs.  Hill's  constitution,  will  soon 
terminate  in  her  dissolution ;  nor  does  the  best  hu- 
man means,  or  medical  aid,  in  the  least  avail.  Con- 
sidering her  natural  timidity,  she  is  as  calm  as  can 
be  expected ;  but  O  the  solemn  stroke  of  death !  The 
thoughts  of  such  a  separation  sink  my  spirits  exceed- 
mgly.  I  would  still  try  to  labour,  but  under  such 
burdened  spirits,  how  difficult  the  task  !  AVhile  the 
feelings  of  human  nature  cannot,  and  indeed  should 
not  altogether  be  resisted,  yet  still  it  is  [our]  duty  to 
say — "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away :  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  Love  to 
you  both,  from 

Yours  very  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

P.  S.  Mrs.  Hill  is  now  so  exceedingly  weak,  that  no 
persons  but  her  immediate  attendants  are  permitted  to 
see  her.  I  mention  this,  as  Charles  has  hinted  your 
kind  intention  of  giving  us  a  visit,  to  take  your  leave 
of  your  departing  friend.  I  almost  fear  that  if  you 
were  to  travel  immediately,  with  all  possible  ex- 
pedition, you  would  scarcely  find  her  alive,  while 


DEATH  OF  MRS.  HILL.  333 

the  result  of  such  a  visit  would  only  give  pain  to 
her  mind.  In  a  great  measure,  her  recollection 
seems  nearly  gone,  through  the  weakness  of  her  bo- 
dily frame. 

The  death  of  Mrs.  Hill,  which  took  place  on  the 
17th  of  August,  was  borne  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  with 
the  truest  Christian  resignation.  A  few  days  after  the 
funeral,  he  wrote  me  a  long  and  kind  letter,  which 
will  give  the  best  idea  of  the  state  of  his  mind  under 
this  afflicting  bereavement. 

Wotion-ufider-edge,  Aug.  27th,  1830. 
O  MY  DEAR  Sidney, 

My  dear  wife  is  gone,  but  just  a  step  before  me,  in- 
to the  world  of  spirits.  Her  decline,  at  the  last,  was 
very  rapid.  Though  the  innocent  aberrations  of  her 
mind,  during  the  last  few  days  of  her  life,  were  some- 
what painful,  and  drew  many  a  tear  from  my  eyes, 
yet,  at  collected  intervals,  she  would  be  in  a  state  of 
fervent  ejaculatory  prayer ;  and  1  am  satisfied  that 
they  who  die  under  the  influences  of  the  spirit  of  pray- 
er, will  awake  up  in  the  regions  of  eternal  praise. 
She  is  now  deposited  in  the  vault  where  your  grand- 
mother and  your  parents  lie,  and  I,  according  to  the 
regular  course  of  nature,  must  very  soon  be  added  to 
their  number.  And,  O  that  God  would  give  the 
grace  that  we  may  so  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom, 
that  neither  the  splendour  of  any  thing  that  is  great, 
or  the  silly  conceit  of  any  thing  that  is  good  in  us,  may 
in  any  way  withdraw  our  eyes  from  beholding  our- 
selves as  sinful  dust  and  ashes.  Every  moment  we 
are  in  danger,  especially  if  we  are  admired  by  the  half- 
professors  of  the  day.  Wliat  an  important  admoni- 
tion— love  not  the  world. 

Though  I  am  glad  that  I  dissuaded  you  from  your 
kind  purpose  of  a  journey  to  Wotton,  to  see  Mrs.  Hill 
before  her  departure,  as  it  would  have  answered  no 
end,  vet  vou  cannot  but  be  assured  at  all  times  how 


334  LETTER  OP  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

happy  I  am  to  see  you  when  in  town.  To  that  place 
of  my  winter's  residence  I  suppose  I  must  make  an- 
other, and,  most  probably,  my  last  effort  to  resort.  I 
begin  to  feel  for  the  future  prosperity  of  the  Surry 
chapel  congregation  exceedingly.  I  know  that  good 
ministers  must  be  of  God's  own  making  and  sending ; 
and  while  my  prayers  are  not  wanting  at  a  throne  of 
grace,  that  the  Lord  would  send  us  one  after  his  own 
heart,  to  be  my  helpmate  in  my  fast  declining  days, 
yet,  hitherto,  the  blessing  has  been  withheld.  Though 
I  have  hitherto  kept  myself  detached  from  all  those 
little  sectarian  principles  which  so  miserably  divide 
the  church,  yet  even  that  seems  to  operate  against 
me.  The  dissenter,  by  the  contracted  discipline  of 
the  church,  feels  himself  thrust  at  a  distance,  and 
consequently  keeps  his  distance,  while  their  mutual 
prejudices  are  augmented  thereby.  O  when  shall 
that  happy  day  dawn  upon  us,  when  real  Christians 
and  Christian  ministers  of  all  denominations,  shall 
come  nearer  to  each  other.  In  some  parts,  blessed 
be  God,  this  has  been  in  a  measure  accomplished. 
With  us,  I  fear  the  contrary  is  to  be  lamented.  I 
once  had  several  of  the  clergy  of  the  establishment 
to  lend  me  their  friendly  aid ;  this  [not  being  the 
case  now]  the  more  pains  me,  as  from  an  educa- 
tion bias,  I  should  be  happy  to  obtain  the  help  from 
that  quarter,  I  so  deeply  need ;  but  such  chapels 
must  be  given  over  to  the  church,  or  they  are  not  as- 
sisted by  it. 

I  bless  God  my  dear  Sidney  is  not  half  such  ^.jine 

preacher  as  they  have  got  at .     He  is  now  their 

fixture  ;  I  should  be  sadly  grieved  at  such  a  fixture 
with  us.  See  the  character  of  a  preacher  as  depicted 
by  Paul,  1  Cor.  ii. — that  is  the  preacher  to  whom, 
with  the  greatest  thankfulness,  I  should  be  happy  to 
give  the  right-hand  of  fellowship;  and  then  old  Si- 
meon's song  shall  be  my  death-bed  song  of  praise,  on 
behalf  of  a  people  I  love  as  my  o^vn  soul,  many  of 
whom  are  my  crown,  and  rejoicing  in  the  Lord — 


RESIGNATION  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  335 

"  Lord  [now]  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace, 
for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation." 

With  kind  affection  to  your  deservedly  much-belov- 
ed, believe  me  to  be, 

Yours  very  affectionately 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

To  a  friend,*  whose  kind  and  affectionate  consola- 
tions were  highly  valued  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  he 
expresses  himself  on  the  loss  he  had  sustained  in  these 
terms — "  It  could  not  but  be  supposed,  that  after  a 
union  of  [nearly]  sixty  years,  a  separation  must  have 
been  severely  felt.  Though  for  some  weeks  before 
Mrs.  Hill's  departure  I  was  prepared  for  the  stroke, 
yet,  when  the  solemn  event  really  took  place,  I  found 
that  anticipation  proved  but  a  feeble  defence  of  what 
afterwards  I  was  called  to  feel.  You  had  once  the 
same  sharp  trial  to  sustain,  and  I  am  sure,  after  such 
a  trial  as  you  were  called  to  undergo,  nature  must 
have  had  hard  struggles  in  you  before  you  could  say 
meekly — '  Thy  will  be  done.'  To  live  without  natural 
affection  converts  a  man  into  a  monster.  The  Creator 
of  our  nature  has  kindly  interwoven  it  in  our  consti- 
tutions, to  operate  as  a  social  bond  between  each  other. 
Were  we  without  it,  the  world  would  be  a  thousand 
times  worse  than  it  is  ;  and  though  these  bonds  are 
most  cruelly  violated  among  such  as  are  in  a  course  of 
nature,  yet  where  grace  reigns  through  righteousness, 
how  sweetly  are  we  united  to  each  other  thereby,  and 
how  comfortably  are  we  directed  to  those  social  and 
relative  duties  between  each  other,  in  which  the  pre- 
sent happiness  of  human  life  so  much  consists.  While 
we  are  here,  [we  are]  directed  to  love  each  other  'with 
pure  hearts  fervently,'  [and]  in  the  accomplishment  of 
that  command,  we  taste  somewhat  of  the  heaven  that 
shall  be,  for  heaven  is  a  heaven  of  love,  for  '  God  is 
love.'     No  wonder,  if  we  feel  at  times  considerable 

*  Henry  Brooker,  Esq.,  Brighton. 


336  CHARACTER  OF  MRS.  HILL. 

pain  when  these  silken  cords  are  snapped  asunder  in 
this  world  by  the  violent  hands  of  death ;  Imt,  blessed 
be  God,  in  those  regions,  where  death  can  no  more 
enter,  such  sorrows  can  never  interrupt  our  everlasting 
joy — 'there  we  shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sor- 
row and  sighing  shall  flee  away.'" 

For  more  than  half  a  century  had  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rowland  Hill  been  united  by  ties  of  the  purest  Christ- 
ian aflection,  such  as  are  happily  not  severed  bydeath, 
but  extend  into  another  state  of  existence,  leaving  to 
the  survivor  the  only  true  consolation,  that  members 
of  the  Redeemer's  family,  both  in  earth  and  heaven, 
are  still  one  in  him.  The  opposite  characteristics  of 
this  truly  venerable  pair  were,  during  a  very  long 
life,  blended  together  in  the  most  perfect  harmony  ; 
and  being  each  equally  desirous  to  do  good,  what 
was  wanting  for  this  end  in  one,  was  generally  sup- 
plied by  the  other.  Gifted  with  a  sound  and  discri- 
minating judgment,  Mrs.  Hill  managed  with  peculiar 
tact  the  difficult  task  of  controlling  her  husband's 
ardent  nature,  without  checking  his  usefulness  or  ac- 
tivity ;  and  the  weight  of  her  influence  was  so  nicely 
balanced,  that  it  restrained,  but  did  not  repress — it 
wisely  directed  but  did  not  dictate.  The  understand- 
ing with  which  she  accepted  the  otfer  of  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill's  hand  was  never  forgotten  or  evaded  by 
her,  nor  did  she,  in  a  single  instance,  during  the 
whole  term  of  their  union,  sufler  personal  conveni- 
ence or  inclination  to  impede  such  movements  as  he 
considered  it  his  duty  to  make.  Mrs.  Hill's  natural 
reserve  prevented  her  being  known  or  appreciated  by 
casual  visiters  ;  but  those  whom  she  admitted  to  in- 
timacy will  ever  cherish  the  liveliest  recollections  of 
the  sincerity  of  her  friendship,  and  of  the  solid  though 
retiring  qualities  of  her  mind. 

Instead  of  giving  way  to  unavailing  grief,  or  suffer- 
ing his  mind  to  prey  upon  itself  in  seclusion,  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  endeavoured  to  find  comfort  in  afflic- 
tion by  seeking  it  in  the  concerns  of  his  ministry. 


LETTER  TO  MR.  JONES.  337 

The  members  of  Surry  chapel  were  perpetually  in 
his  thoughts,  and  he  used  to  express  great  anxiety 
for  their  welfare.  He  recollected  that  he  had  forgot- 
ten to  give  Mr.  Jones,  who  went  to  supply  his  London 
pulpit  soon  after  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Hill,  some  in- 
structions he  thought  necessary  for  the  furtherance 
of  his  pecuhar  discipline,  and  as  soon  as  the  omis- 
sion occurred  to  him,  he  wrote  ( )  as  follows  on 

the  subject : — 

Wotton,  7th  September,  1830. 

My  dear  BROTHER  JoNES, 

Before  you  went  off  for  London  I  forgot  to  men- 
tion one  thing.  Though  it  is  much  more  ditficult  to 
keep  up  proper  Christian  discipline  in  London  than 
in  the  country,  yet  if  we  cannot  do  what  we  would, 
we  should  do  what  we  can,  and  aim  at  such  a  discip- 
line as  may  prove  a  check  to  some,  if  it  cannot  prove 
a  sufficient  check  to  all.  I  have,  therefore,  felt  my 
mind  much  grieved,  that  the  visiting  ministers  at 
Surry  chapel,  during  my  absence,  look  upon  our 
communicants'  meeting,  on  a  Monday  evening,  as  un- 
worthy of  their  notice  and  attention,  whereby  bad 
becomes  abundantly  worse.  I  am  very  soon,  to  leave 
all  these  concerns,  as  it  respects  the  church  below, 
yet  I  wish  to  leave  things  in  as  good  a  plight  as  cir- 
cumstances will  admit ;  and  for  this  end,  let  me  hum- 
bly request  you  to  set  such  an  example,  by  your 
punctual  attendance,  that  others  may  be  excited,  by 
your  good  example,  to  be  ashamed  to  neglect  that 
part  of  the  service  [to]  which  it  is  their  duty  to  at- 
tend. 

Alas  for  me  !  since  the  death  of  my  attentive  wife, 
the  temporal  concerns  of  my  family,  and  little  farm- 
ing matters,  are  brought  under  my  notice ;  and  though 
I  am  thankful  for  the  attention  of and  my  ser- 
vant Charles,  somewhat  of  superintendency  is  needed 
by  me,  ****** 
so  much  about  the  little  things  of  this  world.  May 
29 


338  LEAIMINGTON 

the  Lord  make  you  the  happy,  honoured  instrument 
of  preparing  souls  for  a  better  world  than  this  which 
I  must  soon  leave.  How  happy  should  I  be  if  I 
[could]  live  nearer  to  God.  Most  affectionate  love  to 
all,  from  theirs  and 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

Soon  after  the  painful  event,  by  which  he  had  been 
bereaved  of  the  beloved  partner  in  his  early  sorrows 
and  more  recent  joys,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  quitted,  for 
a  few  weeks,  those  scenes  which  daily  reminded  him 
of  his  trials  and  his  loss.  He  went  to  Leamington, 
in  Warwickshire,  and  endeavoured  to  divert  his 
thoughts  from  affliction,  by  superintending  the  affairs 
of  a  chapel  he  designed  to  manage  upon  his  custom- 
ary plan.  Unexpected  opposition  arose  to  the  intro- 
duction of  the  liturgy,  but  he  persevered  successfully 
in  his  determination  to  make  the  service  as  like  that 
of  our  church  as  possible.  He  wrote  me  a  long  let- 
ter, in  which  he  mentions  the  difficulties  he  had  en- 
countered. "  I  am  greatly  indebted,"  he  says,  "  to 
the  support  of  some  liberal  minded  dissenters  in 
that  place  ;"  but  he  annexes  to  this  declaration,  a 
strong  complaint  against  the  prejudices  of  others, 
who  were  hostile  to  the  book  of  Common  Prayer. 
This  gave  him  the  greatest  uneasiness,  and  called 
forth  the  following  characteristic  question  and  reply 
in  the  letter  just  mentioned  : — "  What  sort  of  an  evil 
is  a  sectarian  spirit  7  It  is  the  cruel  iron  wedge,  of 
the  devil's  own  forging,  to  separate  Christians  from 
each  other— Ciiristians  thereby  become  like  divided 
armies."  With  regard  to  the  promoters  of  his  object 
at  Leamington,  he  says — "  They  are  very  anxious  to 
come  as  near  the  church  as  they  possibly  can — but 
if  they  were  to  resign  their  chapel  entirely  to  the 
church,  they  exclude  at  one  stroke  every  other  pro- 
testant  minister  of  any  denomination."  He  proceeds, 
"  while,  therefore,  the  people  at  Leamington  have 


FORMS  OF  PRAYER.  339 

opened  their  large  and  handsome  chapel,  by  adopting 
the  liturgic  service,  and  have  settled  matters  accord- 
ingly, yet,  in  the  admission  of  good  ministers  of 
every  denomination,  they  choose  a  little  more  liberty 
than  the  church  allows."  Mr.  Hill  was  always  a 
strong  advocate  for  the  liturgy  of  the  church,  and 
confessed,  that  while  he  condemned  dl\  formality  in 
prayer,  he  found  his  devotions  much  assisted  by  our 
spiritual  and  edifying /orws.  It  is  part  of  the  truest 
glory  of  our  nation,  that  it  possesses,  under  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  state,  such  an  admirable  standard  of  what 
the  spirit  of  devotion  in  a  people  ought  to  be,  which 
it  is  surely  much  more  calculated  to  inspire  than 
many,  to  use  an  expression  of  Mr.  Hill's,  of  the 
"tiresome  forms  of  others,  disguised  in  an  extempo- 
raneous dress."  I  once  mentioned  to  him,  that  I  had 
heard  it  had  been  observed  by  a  clergyman  of  his 
acquaintance — "  If  a  man  could  but  hear  only  half 
of  the  extempore  prayers  offered  up  in  this  country 
on  any  one  Sunday,  he  would  fall  down  on  his  knees 
in  an  ecstacy,  to  give  vent  to  his  thankfidness  for  the 
liturgy."—"  That  he  would  sure  enough,"  he  replied, 
— "  and  let  me  ask  if  a  man's  heart  cannot  respond  to 
those  spiritual  petitions  which  abound  in  our  service, 
what  has  grace  done  in  it  ?"  It  is,  indeed,  also  a 
a  matter  of  surprise,  that  they  who  object  to  forms 
altogether,  do  not  see  plainly,  that  if  the  words  of 
supplication  used  by  the  minister  are  adopted  by  the 
people,  they  become  to  them,  though  uttered  extem- 
pore, in  eveiy  sense  of  the  word,  a  form. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  returned  to  Wotton,  for  a  short 
time  after  his  visit  to  Leamington,  and  then  proceed- 
ed to  London.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1831  he 
wrote  me  the  following  letter : — 

London,  January  7ih,  1831. 

My  dear  Sidney, 

#         *         *         *♦         *         «         # 

You  talk  of  a  visit  to  London  ;  whenever  you  can 


340  LETTER  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

come  1  shall  be  happy  to  receive  both  you  and  yours, 

^t  *  *  *  *  * 

and  how  happy  should  I  be  if  you  were  but  permit- 
ted to  allow  me  your  jmlpit  services  for  my  domestic 
accommodation.  No  wonder  that  I  now  feel  myself 
worn  out,  both  in  body  and  mind.  However  the  set- 
tins;  sun,  in  its  decline,  may  diminish  in  respect  to  its 
meridian  splendour,  yet,  m  the  magnificence  of  its 
beauty,  it  finishes  its  high  celestial  progress  with  a 
most  grateful  and  pleasmg  serenity  to  the  beholder's 
eye.  You,  dear  Sidney,  are,  I  trust,  but  still  rising  to 
the  meridian  of  your  ministerial  career,  not  to  be 
eclipsed  by  the  clouds  and  mists  that  arise  from  this 
lower  world.  O  that  your  fine  path  may  be  like 
"  the  path  of  the  just,  shining  more  and  more  unto 
the  perfect  day  !"  In  short,  may  your  sun  set  with 
more  grandeur  than  ever  it  arose,  till  it  shall  again 
arise  in  those  bright  regions,  as  yet  unknown  to  us, 
to  set  no  more  ! 

While  I  was  writing  the  above,  yours  arrived. ,  I 
quite  ao-ree  with  you  as  it  respects  the  evil  tendency 
of  the  prophetic  fancies  that  are  jumping  about  in 
the  skulls  of  some  young  clerical  divines.  I  fear  it 
will  prove  the  cause  of  thrusting  out  some  better 
things  from  their  hearts,  which  will  be  the  case,  un- 
less established  by  grace. 

0  these  interruptions  ! — when  will  they  sufl!er  me 
to  finish  this  jumble  ?  Still  their  visit  was  on  a  most 
important  object,  ....  Leamington.  That  will 
draw  a  long  sum  out  of  my  short  purse.  Most  glad- 
ly, however,  will  that  be  parted  with,  if  the  end  can 
be  accomplished. 

1  have  marked  the  end  of  April,  when  you  and 
yours  are  to  be  expected ;  but  age  so  seriously  bids 
me  to  look  into  the  grave,  that  it  is  now  high  time  to 
speak  with  caution  respecting  a  future  day. 

Yours  affectionately, 

R.  HILL. 


LETTER  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  341 

Early  in  February  I  received  another  letter  from 
him,  in  which  he  again  alludes  to  the  prophetic 
questions  mentioned  in  the  last. 

Surry  chapel^  Feb.  4.th,  1831, 

My  dear  Sidney, 

Charles  must  ■write 
While  I  indite, 
For  lack  of  sight, 
By  candle  light. 

I  remember  the  time  you 

propose  to  visit  me,  and  shall  be  happy  to  see  you 
both.  What  a  number  of .  . .  .have  got  addleheaded 
on  the  subject  of  the  personal  reign  of  Christ.  I  have 

been  lately  told  that is  infected  with  the  same 

mania.  God  help  you  and  me  to  preach  on  the  spi- 
ritual reign  of  Christ  as  much  as  we  can  :  we  never 
can  go  too  far  on  tJiat  subject:  I  am  sure  this  wild 
mania  will  be  productive  of  much  mischief,  among 

some  otherwise  good-minded  people.  may  keep 

his  maggots  and  fine  flourishing  style  to  himself.  I 
like  Paul's  plain  style  best.  Better  to  feed  the  appe- 
tite of  the  hungry,  than  to  tickle  the  fancies  of  the 
whimsical.  This  breed  of  preachers  are  apt  soon  to 
preach  themselves  out  of  breath,  and  come  to  nothing. 
May  you  and  I  never  be  the  retailers  of  such  ivhipt- 
syllabub  divinity — better  keep  a  cook's-shop  to  satisiy 
the  craving  appetite,  than  a  confectioner's-shop  to  re- 
gale the  depraved  appetite  of  the  dainty.  Good 
brow7i-bread  preaching  is  the  best  after  all.  I  have 
been  much  shut  up  by  a  cold  this  winter,  and  expect 
soon  to  be  shut  up  in  my  coffin — O  for  an  increasing 
hope  full  of  immortality  ! 

Yours,  very  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 
Kind  love  to  your  wife. 

In  another  letter  to  me  upon  the  same  subject,  he 
remarks — "  I  believe  the  present  itch  to  prophesy 
29* 


342  PROPHECY. 

upon  prophecy,  is  calculated  to  promote  much  evil, 
and  but  little  good.  I  believe  no  prophecy  is  to  be 
understood  till  after  it  is  accomplished.  We  may 
most  safely  conjecture,  but  not  rashly  determine,  the 
times  and  seasons  respecting  such  future  events, 
which  the  Father  hath  kept  in  his  own  hands.  Some 
people  seem  to  have  more  brains  of  a  certain  sort 
than  they  know  well  how  to  manage  :  skittish  fancy 
next  steps  in,  sets  the  imagination  at  work,  and  from 
the  symbolical  and  figurative  expressions,  in  which 
future  events  are  wisely  hid  from  our  eyes,  whimsies 
by  thousands  possess  the  brain.  But  what  is  the  bad 
result?  Why,  as  these  speculations  are  so  very 
various,  most  of  them  must  be  wrong  ;  and  what  sort 
of  effect  is  this  likely  to  produce  on  infidel  minds  7 
An  extract,  however,  is  more  to  the  point,  from  Bishop 
Hall — far  beyond  that  which  can  be  produced  from 
the  brains  of  Rowland  Hill— 'O  blessed  Saviour, 
what  strange  variety  of  conceits  do  I  find  concerning 
thy  thousand  years'  reign  !  What  riddles  are  there 
in  that  prophecy,  which  no  human  tongue  can  read ! 
Where  to  fix  the  beginning  of  that  marvellous  mil- 
lenary and  where  the  end;  and  what  manner  of  reign 
it  shall  be,  whether  temporal  or  spiritual,  on  earth  or 
in  heaven,  undergoes  as  many  constructions  as  there 
are  pens  that  have  undertaken  it ;  and  yet,  when  all 
is  done,  I  see  thine  apostle  speak  only  of  the  souls  of 
the  martyrs  reigning  so  long  with  thee,  not  of  thy 
reigning  so  long  on  earth  with  those  martyrs.  How 
busy  are  the  tongues  of  men,  how  are  their  brains 
taken  up  with  the  indeterminable  construction  of  this 
enigmatical  truth,  when,  in  the  mean  time,  the  care 
-  of  thy  spiritual  reign  in  their  hearts  is  neglected ! 
O,  my  Saviour,  while  others  weary  themselves  with 
the  disquisition  of  thy  personal  reign  here  upon  earth 
for  a  thousand  years,  let  it  be  the  whole  bent  and 
study  of  my  soul  to  make  sure  of  my  personal  reign 
with  thee  in  heaven  to  all  eternity.' " 

In  the  spring  of  1831,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  mind 


MR.  hill's  views  AS  TO  HIS  SUCCESSOR.       313 

was  exceedingly  occupied  with  the  aiTairs  of  tlie 
chapel  at  Leamington,  which  he  determined  to  get 
entirely  into  his  own  possession.  He  says,  in  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  dated  February  12th — ^"I  am  about  to 
take  upon  myself  the  concerns  of  a  large  and  hand- 
some chapel  at  Leamington  Spa,  and  put  it  into  the 
hands  of  the  Village  Itinerancy,  as  future  trustees  for 
the  public  good."  He  became  extremely  anxious 
about  a  fit  and  proper  minister  for  that  place  of 
fashionable  resort,  and  also  for  the  appointment  of 
his  successor  at  Surry  chapel.  Mr.  Hill  was  very  de- 
sirous to  be  succeeded  by  a  clergyman  of  the  church 
of  England,  of  sentiments  similar  to  his  own,  "  who 
wished  for  a  little  more  liberty."  I  frequently  ventured 
to  hint  to  him,  that  he  would  have  little  chance  of 
finding,  in  these  times,  such  a  clergyman  as  he  would 
approve,  willing  to  accept  his  offer,  unless  he  would 
allow  his  chapel  to  be  placed  under  episcopal  man- 
agement. "  Well,"  he  replied,  "  Sidney,  in  that  you 
must  come  over  to  me,  not  I  to  you  churchmen — I 
cannot  do  it."  His  feelings  on  this  question  will  be 
further  evident,  from  a  conversation  which  passed 
between  him  and  his  friend  Mr.  Collison,  tutor  of 
the  seminary  attached  to  the  Village  Itinerancy,  who 
kindly  gave  me  the  substance  of  it  in  the  following 
terms : — "  He  (Mr.  Hill)  stated  to  me,  that  he  had 
been  asked  the  question,  whether  Surry  chapel  could 
not  become,  by  an  act  in  his  life-time,  a  regular  epis- 
copal chapel,  under  appropriate  jurisdiction,  and  con- 
formable to  that  order  ?  He  paused  before  he  gave 
me  his  reply,  and  with  great  solemnity  of  manner  he 
exclaimed — ■'■  I  said,  No,  I  cannot  do  that — when 
Surry  chapel  was  erected,  it  was  on  the  broad  ground 
of  the  gospel.  I  received  money  from  good  people 
of  all  denominations,  on  my  personal  assurance  that 
it  should  be  so  applied.' — ^Rising  from  his  chair,  and 
deepening  the  tones  of  his  voice,  he  continued,  '  I 
pledged  myself  that  Surry  chapel  pulpit  should  be 
open  to  approved  and  good  ministers  of  the  gospel,  of 


344        MR.  HILL  S  VIEWS  AS  TO  HIS  SUCCESSOR. 

all  denominations.  I  have  always  acted  upon  this 
plan,  and  1  cannot  with  a  good  conscience  do  other- 
wise.' " 

The  clergymen  from  whom  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
would  have  willingly  selected  his  successor,  were  too 
much  attached  to  the  church  to  desert  it  upon  any 
terms,  even  for  a  sphere  of  labour  which  came  so  ap- 
parently near  their  own  in  form.  His  anxiety  to  be 
assisted  in  his  old  age,  and  followed  at  his  death  by 
an  episcopally  ordained  minister,  was  very  great.  In 
a  letter  to  me  he  says,  after  a  few  remarks  on  seeing 
no  prospect  of  my  obtaining  preferment — "  that,  how- 
ever, shall  rest  with  yourself,  as  I  should  be  heartily 
glad,  as  I  am  just  going  out  of  the  world,  to  see  you 
established  rector  of  ^urry  chapel  [and]  vicar  of 
Leamington^  where  a  very  handsome  cliapel  will 
soon  be  in  my  hands."*  He  adds,  in  his  humorous 
way — "  I  say  nothing  about  making  you  perpetual 
curate  of  Wotton-under-edge,  being  only  a  fit  place 
of  preferment  for  the  poor  Welchman  who  is  there 
already." 

*  He  purchased  this  chapel  soon  after,. 


BIBLE    SOCIETY.  345 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

BIBLE    SOCIETY,    1831. 

The  effort  made  in  the  year  1831  to  change  the 
constitution  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  the  unusual  scene  at  its  anniversary,  will  long  be 
remembered  with  regret,  by  every  sincere  friend  of 
that  institution.  In  the  midst  of  the  confusion  which 
pervaded  the  meeting,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  rose  to  speak, 
and  was  received  with  all  the  respect  due  to  his  age, 
character,  and  experience.  In  a  few  words,  uttered, 
with  the  truest  dignity  of  manner,  he  pointed  out  the 
real  nature  of  the  question  by  which  they  were  agita- 
ted, and  rebuked  the  impatient  spirit  of  the  assembly. 
On  the  proposal  to  exclude  from  the  society,  all  per- 
sons not  professing  belief  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  he  remarked,  that  he  wished  all  such  belong- 
ed to  it,  because  the  Bible  contained  "the  truth  to 
convince  them  of  their  errors ;"  and  he  placed  the 
point  at  issue  on  its  proper  footing,  by  the  observa- 
tion, "I  do  not  ask  idio  gives  me  the  Bible,  but  %i-Jtat 
sort  of  a  Bible  he  gives  me  ?"  After  adverting  to  the 
sad  spectacle  presented  by  the  want  of  harmony 
among  Christians,  and  to  the  triumph  it  afforded  un- 
believers, Mr.  Hill  declared  his  determination  to  take 
leave  of  them,  till  the  restoration  of  that  happy  union 
by  which  they  had  so  long  been  distingl^ished.  Be- 
ing detained  at  the  election  for  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, I  did  not  reach  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  house  till 
the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  he  made  his  memo- 
rable protest  against  all  innovations  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  Bible  Society.  Mrs.  Sidney  arrived  on  the 
previous  Monday,  and  as  he  had  not  seen  her  since 
Mrs.  Hill's  death,  he  was  at  first  much  agitated,  and 


346  MR.  HILL  S  LAST  MISSIONARY  DAY. 

put  out  his  hand  without  speaking.  After  a  short 
time  he  said,  "  So  you  are  come  to  see  a  poor  old  man, 
left  all  alone,  just  dropping  into  the  grave,"  and  made 
affecting  allusions  to  his  loss.  As  I  was  unable  to  get 
to  town  till  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at 
night,  I  found  Mr.  Hill  was  gone  to  bed ;  but  he  came 
down  the  next  morning  full  of  the  preceding  day's 
meeting — "Sidney,"  he  began,  "I  went  to  the  Bible 
Society  yesterday,  but  there  was  such  a  noise  I  came 
away." 

I  told  him  I  expected  there  would  be  a  great  com- 
motion. 

"  Commotion  indeed,"  he  replied,  "  you  never  heard 
any  thing  like  it.  The  proposal  to  turn  out  the  So- 
cinians  appears  to  me  to  be  altogether,  in  the  present 
state  of  the  society,  unreasonable  and  unwise.  If 
there  was  a  danger  of  their  gaining  an  ascendancy^ 
or  if  they  gave  away  another  version  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, I  should  be  for  separating  from  them  at  once ; 
but  as  long  as  they  are  in  the  minority,  and  are  con- 
tent to  circulate  our  Bibles,  it  is  quite  preposterous  to 
refuse  to  let  them  distribute  the  only  antidote  to  their 
own  errors.  Why,  for  my  part,  I  should  be  glad  to 
get  a  Mahometan  to  receive  and  disperse  our  Bibles ; 
he  might  get  good  and  would  do  good." 

"  What  do  you  think,  sir,"  I  asked,  "  of  the  other 
question  on  which  so  mnch  has  been  said — beginning 
the  proceedings  with  prayer?  Surely  you  will  be  of 
opinion,  that  it  is  possible  for  Christians  to  meet  in 
the  spirit  of  prayer,  without  the  act,  especially  with 
such  different  views  as  to  the  latter." 

"  Certainly  it  is;  and  I  consider  the  introduction  of 
any  religious  form  or  test  into  the  Bible  Society  ut- 
terly unnecessary — nay,  impracticable." 

The  missionary  day  at  Surry  chapel  this  year  was 
the  last  Mr.  Hill  ever  attended.  He  said  in  1829, 
just  before  he  entered  the  chapel,  "I  will  read  prayers 
a  couple  of  years  longer ;  then  I  will  give  it  up," — 
and  his  prediction,  if  such  it  may  be  called,  was  ful- 


GIFT  OF  TONGUES..  347 

filled.  He  was  in  very  low  spirits  the  whole  day, 
caused  chiefly  by  his  recollection,  that  it  was  the  first 
occasion  of  the  kind  he  had  ever  been  without  Mrs. 
Hill.  As  he  went  to  the  house,  carrying  a  plate  filled 
by  those  who  pressed  to  give  him  their  contributions, 
he  sobbed  aloud,  and  I  heard  him  say  as  he  came  into 
the  room,  in  a  voice  almost  inarticulate  through  his 
emotion — "  Another  good  minister*  gone,  I  shall  soon 
myself  be  numbered  with  the  dead ;  Lord  help  me  to 
do  a  little  more  for  him  while  I  live."  He  gave  his 
usual  dinner,  and  I  sat  in  the  place  till  then  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Hill;  but  a  mournful  foreboding  prevailed — 
the  shadow  of  death  seemed  to  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
party.  Mr.  Hill  scarcely  spoke  a  word,  but  returned 
thanks  after  dinner  with  the  most  impressive  so- 
lemnity, and  when  his  guests  departed,  he  retired 
to  take  his  usual  rest,  after  which  he  became  more 
cheerfiil. 

Thouffh  the  asre  and  loneliness  of  Mr.  Hill  at  times 
occasioned  great  depression,  he  was  quite  as  fre- 
quently in  a  lively  humour,  and  retained  all  his  cha- 
racteristic wit  and  drollery.  One  evening,  when  he 
was  in  high  spirits,  and  enjoying  a  newspaper,  which 
a  relation  was  reading  to  him,  a  visiter  was  announ- 
ced, who  entered  the  room  with  the  air  of  a  man 
about  to  communicate  some  important  or  interesting 
intelligence. 

"  Sir,  I  have  the  greatest  pleasure  in  calling  on  you, 
to  say  that  I  can  ofl:er  you  the  opportunity  of  meeting 
a  person  endowed  with  a  wonderful  gift  indeed." 

"Pray,  sir,  what  is  that?  I  am  getting  almost  too 
old  to  go  a  wonder  hunting." 

"  The  miraculous  gift  of  tongues,  sir;  a  lady  pos- 
sessing it  is  coming  to  spend  a  few  hours  with  me, 
and  I  hasten  to  ask  you  to  meet  her." 

Mr.  Hill  inquired,  after  sighing  out,  "  Oh,  dear !" 

*  He  had  just  been  informed  of  the  death  of  a  minister  with 
whom  he  had  long  been  acquainted. 


348  GIFT  OF  TONGITES. 

with  a  wistful  glance  at  the  newspaper,  "  What  lan- 
guage does  she  speak  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  that  is  not  known ;  some  think  she 
speaks  two — but  it  is  evidently  regular  language." 

"  Two  languages  no  one  can  understand ! — enough 
to  craze  any  body." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Hill !  I  am  sorry  to  see  an  old  man  at 
your  age  ridicule  such  things." 

"  Are  you,  indeed,  sir?  I  do  not  think  I  shall  leave 
it  off  for  all  that." 

The  visiter,  still  unwilling  to  depart  without  making 
a  proselyte,  renewed  his  arguments,  to  the  annoyance 
of  Mr.  Hill,  who  was  always  disappointed  when  inter- 
rupted in  a  newspaper. 

The  next  question  was—"  If  nobody  knows  what 
she  says,  how  was  it  discovered  that  she  speaks  two 
lanofuao-es  V 

Tliis,  as  may  be  supposed,  elicited  no  satisfactory 
explanation ;  but  by  way  of  terminating  difficulties,  as 
well  as  the  visit,  it  was  suggested  as  desirable,  that 
some  celebrated  linguist  should  hear  her  performance 
of  sounds. 

The  champion  of  tongues,  finding  his  eloquence 
unavailing,  at  length  took  leave,  expressing  his  regi'et 
at  Mr.  Hill's  incredulity,  to  which  the  latter  courte- 
ously observed — "  1  thank  you,  sir,  all  the  same  for 
your  kind  invitation ;  but  if  she  does  not  understand 
what  she  says  herself,  it  is  not  likely  that  I  should  be 
much  the  wiser." 

I  The  worthy  visiter,  shaking  his  head,  only  replied 
— "Oh,  sir!  I  wish  you  could  once  see  and  hear,  and 
then  you  would  be  convinced." 

When  he  was  gone,  Mr.  Hill  looked  up  and  said — 
"Now  finish  the  debate — my  poor  old  brains  can  take 
that  in,  though  they  cannot  reach  this  wonderful  wo- 
man's whimsies." 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  never  mentioned  the  recent  ex- 
hibitions called  the  gift  of  tongues,  without  either 
ridiculing  or  deploring  them ;  and  it  is  indeed  much 


GIFT  OP  TONGUES.  349 

to  be  lamented,  that  Christians  should  have  been  so 
led  away  by  the  power  of  their  own  imaginations.  In 
the  days  of  the  apostles,  the  miraculons  agency  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  was  given  for  clear  and  determinate  pur- 
poses, and  the  gift  of  tongues  was  to  enable  unlearned 
but  inspired  men  to  address  the  Gentiles  in  their  own 
languages.  No  one  can  deny  that  they  were  given 
with  this  view  on  the  day  of  Pentecost ;  and  that 
their  subsequent  design  was  the  same,  is  evident  from 
the  words  of  St.  Paul — tongues  are  for  a  sign,  not 
to  them  that  believe,  hut  to  tliem  that  believe  not,* 
and,  therefore,  as  is  justly  observed  by  Whitby,  not 
to  be  used  in  assemblies  of-  the  former.  This  decla- 
ration, and  the  following  question  of  the  apostle,  sure- 
ly ought  to  be  decisive  with  such  as  have  contended 
for  the  manifestations  of  the  present  day: — If,  there- 
fore, the  tchole  church  be  come  together  into  one  place, 
and  all  speak  ivith  tongues,  and  there  come  in  those 
that  are  utdearned  or  unbelievers,  icill  they  not  say 
ye  are  mad  ?t  The  diversities  of  gifts  spoken  of 
by  St.  Paul  were  evidently  essential  to  the  early 
churches.  These  were,  wisdom  to  teach  ;  knowledge 
to  comprehend ;  faith  to  enable  them  to  work  mira- 
cles ;  prophecy  to  foresee  ancl  describe  the  trials,  sup- 
ports, and  condition  of  their  converts,  and  the  church 
at  large ;  discerning  of  spirits  to  discriminate  be- 
tween operations  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  the  power 
of  evil  spirits,  or  the  imaginations  of  men,  as  well  as 
to  judge  of  the  sincerity  and  qualifications  of  indivi- 
duals for  various  offices  ;  the  gift  of  tongues  to  ad- 
dress strangers ;  the  gift  of  interpretation  to  describe 
what  was  thus  spoken.  All  these  were  wanted  in  an 
infant  church  perfectly  opposed  to  the  world,  and 
whose  success  depended  not  on  the  agency  of  man, 
but  on  the  miraculous  aid  of  the  spirit  of  its  divine 
founder.  The  planting  of  Christianity  was  by  the  ex- 
traordinary powers  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  its  watering 
and  increase  by  the  ordinary,  and  the  divine  agency  is 
♦  1  Cor.  xiv.  22.  1 1  Cor.  v.  23. 

30 


350  ACCIDENT  TO  MR.  HILL. 

never  exerted  without  a  definite  object;  nothinp^is  done 
in  vain,  either  in  the  natural  or  the  spiritual  creation 
of  God.  If  it  be  inquired,  what  proof  have  we  of  the 
presence  of  the  Divine  Spirit  in  the  visible  church  of 
Christ,  I  answer,  in  the  greatest  of  all  miracles,  the 
conversion  of  a  soul.  Neither  healing  diseases,  raising 
the  dead,  or  infliction  of  sudden  judgments,  is  to  be 
compared  with  that  power  which,  by  means  of  an  in- 
strument so  simple  as  preaching,  lays  the  proud  heart 
of  man  in  the  dust  before  the  cross,  raises  him  to  holy 
joy,  alters  the  habit  of  his  mind  and  tenor  of  his  life, 
gives  him  strength  to  bear  scoffing  and  persecution, 
takes  away  the  terrors  of  the  grave,  and  tarns  the 
active  current  of  the  soul  from  the  creature  to  God, 
from  self  to  Christ,  from  sin  to  holiness.  This  is  a 
miracle  which  the  unbeliever  ought  to  see  if  he  does 
not.  But  no  sign  can  savingly  convert ;  this  is  the 
province  of  a  direct  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost  on 
hearts  harder  than  adamant,  till  the  Lord  melts  th(nn 
by  the  fire  of  his  word,  and  impresses  on  them  when 
softened  the  seal  of  his  divine  image.  God  designs  to 
raise  from  the  chaotic  mass  of  darkness  and  disorder 
that  surrounds  us,  a  creation  of  light  and  order,  to  his 
own  glory ;  but  here  the  sublimity  of  the  Holy  Spirit's 
agency  consists  in  its  gentleness  :  as  in  producing  the 
old  world,  it  is  descril3ed  as  "  brooding  o'er  the  vast 
abyss,"  so  now  it  rests  with  dove-like  tenderness  on 
the  church,  making  it  gradually  pregnant  with  eter- 
nal glory,  and  indicates  not  its  presence  by  fanatic 
gestures,  wild  and  unmeaning  exclamations,  or  the 
dreams  and  visions  of  enthusiasm. 

As  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  getting  into  his  carriage, 
after  one  of  the  meetings  at  Exeter  Hall  this  year,  he 
grazed  his  leg  against  the  step.  He  said  it  smarted  a 
little,  but  took  no  further  notice.  In  a  few  days  it 
began  to  assmue  the  appearance  of  violent  inflamma- 
tion, and  confined  him  for  some  time  to  the  house,  of 
which,  notwithstanding  his  years,  he  was  very  impa- 
tient.    The  injury  was  near  being  attended  with  the 


VALLEY  OF  HUMILIATION.  351 

most  serious  results,  from  the  difficulty  in  persuading 
him  to  nurse  the  hmb  sufficiently.  While  confined  by 
this  accident,  Mr.  Hill's  mind  was  much  occupied  with 
the  afiairs  of  his  chapel  at  Leamington.  The  young 
man  to  whom  he  had  committed  the  charge  of  that  con- 
gregation received  many  letters  from  him,  in  which  his 
observations  on  the  temporal  aflairs  of  the  place  are 
interspersed  with  spiritual  remarks,  bearing  the  most 
gratifying  evidence  of  the  ripening  of  his  mind  for  a 
better  world.  He  says  in  one  of  them—"  God  will 
make  you  a  blessing,  so  long  as  he  shall  keep  you  in 
the  dust  before  him.  It  will  be  no  gi-eat  criminality, 
if  I  make  a  litde  alteration  in  [one  passage]  of  the 
sacred  volume.  '  He  filleth  the  hungiy  with  good 
things,  but  the  proitd  he  sendeth  empty  away.'  O  that 
most  lovely  valley  of  humiliation ! — the  safest,  the 
most  lovely,  the  most  fertile  spot  between  the  City  of 
Destruction  [and  Heaven].  May  you  get  into  it, 
make  your  constant  abode  in  it,  and  never  get  out  of 
it,  till  from  thence  you  shall  be  called  to  glory.  O 
I  could  say  a  thousand  things  concerning  this  more 
than  celestial  valley.  The  air  is  so  salubrious,  the 
ground  so  fertile,  the  fruit  so  wholesome  ;  while  from 
the  branches  of  every  tree  the  voices  of  prayer  and 
praise  are  heard  in  delightful  concert  with  each  other. 
While  living  in  this  valley,  no  weapon  that  is  formed 
against  us  shall  prosper,  as  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
devil  are  sure  to  pass  over  our  heads,  since  the  enemy 
of  souls  cannot  shoot  loii)  enough  to  reach  us  to  our 
hurt.  Take  this  hint  from  a  very  old  man,  just  put- 
ting oflf  his  harness  while  you  are  just  putting  it  on." 
On  Thursday,  June  2nd,  the  appearance  of  the 
wound  on  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  leg  being  rather  more 
favourable,  he  left  London  for  Leamington,  and,  as  he 
went  by  easy  stages,  he  found  himself  able  to  preach 
once  on  the  Sunday.  The  unsettled  state  of  his  af- 
fairs in  that  place  caused  him  considerable  excitement, 
and  brought  on  a  return  of  the  infiammatory  symp- 
toms. Still  he  would  preach  on  the  Tuesday  evening; 


352  MR.    hill's    recovery. 

the  consequence  of  which  was,  an  alarming  increase 
of  his  sufferings,  and  many  days'  confinement  to  his 
room.  Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  however,  he 
ralHed  beyond  all  expectation,  and  was  able  to  preach 
on  Sunday,  July  3,  to  a  most  crowded  congregation, 
at  Stratford-upon-Avon.  From  Stratford  he  went  to 
Cheltenham,  and  preached  there  on  the  following 
Tuesday,  with  unconmion  power  and  animation.  He 
arrived  at  Wotton  on  the  Wednesday,  and  was  well 
enough  to  undertake  one  sermon  on  Sunday.  Con- 
tinual returns,  however,  of  unpleasant  appearances 
in  his  leg  rendered  the  remainder  of  the  autumn  very 
tr^ang.  Towards  the  end  of  it  he  went  to  Leaming- 
ton, where,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  kind  atten- 
tion of  a  skilful  surgeon,  he  rapidly  recovered,  and 
returned  to  Surry  chapel  late  in  the  winter.  The 
confinement  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  undergone  in  the 
year  1831,  tended  very  much  to  weaken  his  aged 
frame,  and  there  were  many  visible  signs  in  his  con- 
stitution that  nature  was  giving  way.  Still  liis  men- 
tal faculties  were  perfectly  unimpaired,  and  he  mani- 
fested all  the  perspicuity,  vigour,  and  imagination  of 
youth.  A  letter  to  Mr.  Jones  contains  his  own  de- 
scription of  his  feelings  in  the  early  part  of  1832. 

i^urry  chapel,  Feb.  6th,  1832. 

My  dear  brother  Jones, 

Thanks  for  your  letter:  I  am  happy  that  divine 
success  seems  to  attend  the  ministry  of  the  word 
among  you.  As  to  myself,  my  strength  is  so  far  de- 
parted from  me,  that  the  morning  service  in  this  place 
is  as  much  as  ever  I  can  sustain.  Though  we  are 
forbidden  to  take  any  thought  for  the  morrow,  yet  I 
have  many  an  anxious  thought  how  I  should  be  able 
to  perform  the  duties  of  the  Wotton  service,  without 
some  extra  aid.  I  feel  that  I  am  soon  to  go  the  way 
of  all  flesh :  while  the  outward  man  is  now  so  rapid- 
ly on  the  decay,  my  prayer  is,  that  the  inward  man 


LETTER  TO  MR.  JONES.  353 

may  be  renewed  day  by  day.  As  it  is  now  highly 
necessaiy that!  should  have  some  one  constantly  with 
me,  to  preach  when  I  feel  unable,  I  should  like  to 

know  what  your  plans  are  for  the  ensuing  summer. 

#         *         #         #,«         ♦         #         * 

I  am  extremely  sorry  to  hear  of  the  indisposition  of 

;  her  life  is  valuable  for  the  sake  of  her  family, 

but  you  give  me  hopes  that  the  sickness  is  not  unto 
death  ;  may  it  be  to  the  glory  of  God.  O  that  I 
could  feel  a  more  lively  hope  in  the  good  things  I 
have  been  preachino-  so  long  ;  most  fully  would  I 
wish  to  say,  ''  when  heart  and  flesh  fail  me,  God  is 
the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever- 
more." I  have  sent  you  some  books  :  I  have  been 
prett}?-  well  drained  in  furnishing  the  library  at  Leam- 
ington. 

With  kindest  remembrances  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long, 
and  all  incuiring  friends,  from  theirs  and 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

I  also  received  a  letter  from  him,  in  which  he  ex- 
presses the  same  sense  of  his  bodily  decay,  and  alludes 
to  his  anxiety  concerning  the  future  pastor  of  his 
London  flock. 

Surri/  chapel  hoiise,  March  Sth,  1832. 
My  dear  Sidney, 

Why 'have  I  been  so  long  in  answering  your  let- 
ter on  the  offer  of  your  visit  to  London  ?  It  is  on 
account  of  the  rapid  debility  I  daily  feel  from  declin- 
ing years :  though,  perhaps,  one  cause  maybe  through 
the  necessity  of  being  almost  at  times  bed-ridden,  from 
the  injury  received  npon  my  shin-bone  during  the 
last  public  meetings  in  May.  And  though  I  cannot 
say  that  I  have  any  particular  disease,  yet  I  am  so  far 
enfeebled,  that  even  one  sermon  on  a  Sabbath-day  is 
quite  as  much  as  can  be  accomplished  by  me.  In 
30* 


354  LETTER  TO  THE  AUTHOR. 

short,  I  am  now  breaking  apace,  and  O  that  I  could 
but  feel,  that  as  the  outward  man  is  decaying,  the 
inward  man  is  renewed  day  by  day  ! 

I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  leave  London,  before 
the  bustle  of  our  dillbrcnt  religious  meetings  in  May : 
if,  however,  you  and  yours  wish  to  come  to  town 
previously,  I  shall  be  happy  to  receive  you,  so  far  as 
strength  and  ability  will  permit.  I  mention  the  time 
I  design  to  go  out  of  town,  that  you  may  make  your 
arrangements  accordingly,  and  not  be  prevented  visit- 
ing London  at  an  earlier  date,  if  that  will  be  conve- 
nient for  you. 

Though  1  cannot  say  with  Paul,  the  care  of  all  the 
churches  is  upon  me,  yet  O  how  liappy  should  I  be, 
if  this  important  station  in  particular,  were  but  blest 
with  that  minister,  of  a  free,  generous,  open-hearted 
turn  of  mind,  who  would  be  my  affectionate  help- 
mate in  my  fast  declining  days  :  but,  alas  !  where  is 
such  a  one  to  be  found  ?  How  grievous,  that  the 
late  revival  in  the  church  has  been  disfigured  by  the 
vain  imaginations  of  many  who  scarcely  know  what 
they  are  next  to  believe.  If  any  such  were  willing 
to  come  amongst  us,  by  taking  more  liberty  than  the 
church  allows,  I  should  be  afraid  to  trust  them  ; 
while  too  many  dissenters  are  so  far  stiffened  on  their 
side  the  question,  as  to  be  afraid  to  submit  to  the 
apostle's  advice,  and  to  become  all  things  to  all  men, 
that  they  may  win  the  more  to  Christ. 

******* 
As  long  as  I  live,  and  afterwards,  I  trust  the  pulpit 
will  be  equally  open  to  all  who  preach  the  pure  and 
simple  gospel  of  Christ,  but  not  intermixed  with  the 
whim-icams  of  the  present  day.  The  fiery  materials 
that  compose  the  new  opposition  Bible  Society,  I  find 
are  quarrelling  among  themselves,  and  no  wonder  at 
it,  while  the  new  gang  of  prophesiers  are  amongst 
the  most  active  of  its  supporters.  Such  sort  of  p/ws- 
phorus  materials  will  be  sure  to  ignite  among  them- 
selves.    O  that  you  and  I  may  abide  by  that  sure 


MR.  hill's  increasing  DEBILITY.  355 

word  of  prophecy,  to  which  we  do  well  to  resort,  in- 
structed by  the  Holy  Ghost  in  all  wisdom  and  spi- 
ritual understanding.  I  may  further  add,  that  as  the 
tithe  system,  pluralities,  and  other  church  evils,  whe- 
ther real  or  supposed,  are  at  present  under  investiga- 
tion, some  of  our  more  bigoted  rules  may  be  brought 
under  consideration.  Neither  in  England  nor  in 
Scotland  do  we  fiiid  such  principles  upheld  as  there 
formerly  were.  Surely  a  reformation  of  that  which 
is  wrong  may  be  effected  without  a  demolition  of  that 
which  is  rio:ht. 

******* 

Love  to  you  both. 

T  am  yours  very  affectionately, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

Mr.  Hill  did  not  leave  London  till  May  7,  and  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  spending  the  week  previous  to  his 
departure  with  him.  I  found  him  in  excellent  general 
health,  but  much  weaker  than  I  had  ever  before  seen 
him,  yet  deprived  of  none  of  the  clearness  or  vivacity 
of  his  intellect.  There  was  a  continual  variation  in 
his  feelings,  and  though  generally  more  comfortable 
than  might  have  been  expected,  he  was  occasionally 
oppressed  with  a  most  trying  languor.  "  Yesterday," 
he  says,  when  writing  to  Mr.  Broadley  Wilson,  "was 
one  of  my  languid  days.  I  feel  as  though  I  had  got 
to  the  bottom  of  the  Hill  Difficulty :  O  that  I  was 
better  acquainted  with  the  Valley  of  Humiliation,  as 
I  am  very  sure  I  must  soon  enter  the  Valley  of  the 
Shadow  of  Death.  0  that  I  may  be  tauglit  that  plea- 
sant song  more  perfectly,  'yea,  though  I  walk  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil, 
for  thou  art  with  me,  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  com- 
fort me.'"  God  keeps  the  real  Christian  humble  to  the 
end,  that  he  may  be  brought  to  lean  on  the  only  true 
support  in  the  dark  vale  through  which  he  must  pass 
into  eternity ;  a  truth  beautifully  exemplified  in  the  last 
days  of  Mr.  Hill.     His  faith  never  failed,  but  it  was 


356  MY  LAST  VISIT  TO  MR.  HILL. 

unmingledwith  self-confidence;  he  trusted  thestability 
of  his  anchor,  and  knew  the  firmness  of  the  rock, 
fearino:  only  frailty  in  the  vessel.  Taught  from  on 
high,  he  had  learnt  the  plague  of  his  own  heart,  as 
is  evident  from  the  following  passage  in  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Wilson  : — "  I  feel  myself  increasingly  the  old 
man,  yet  I  have  reason  to  be  thankful  that  I  have  no 
other  disease,  than  that  which  old  age  naturally 
brings  with  it.  My  course  I  am  sure  now  must  soon 
be  finished.  O  that  grace  may  be  given  me  to  lay 
doAvn  this  life  with  holy  tranquillity  and  joy  ;  but  O 
this  corrupted  heart,  how  it  interrupts  our  peace  and 
joy  even  to  the  last."  Like  the  great  Henry,  Mr. 
Hill  wished  to  carry  hi&  repentance  to  the  gates  of 
heaven. 

Notwithstanding  his  debility,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  felt 
a  strong  inclination  to  make  an  effort  to  attend  the 
meeting  of  the  Bible  Society  in  1832,  from  which  he 
w"as  only  prevented  by  the  wetness  of  the  day.  "So. 
Sidney,"  he  said  to  me  on  my  return,  "  you  have  had 
I  hear  a  peaceful  day — I  am  thankful  indeed  for  that, 
though  I  believe  it  was  as  well  I  did  not  go;  it  would 
hax'e  been  too  much  for  me."  The  excellent  spirit  of 
candour  displayed  on  that  occasion  by  Mr.  Gerard 
Noel,  and  the  happy  restoration  of  unity  and  peace, 
will  long  dwell  in  the  memories  of  those  who  rejoiced 
to  welcome  among  them  once  more  a  minister  so 
justly  valued  and  beloved.  Venerable  as  the  Bible 
Society  has  long  appeared,  it  has  become  more  than 
ever  an  object  of  our  admiration,  from  the  dignity  of 
its  triumph  over  opponents  from  without  and  divisions 
within. 

Lest  he  should  be  exhausted  by  the  busde  of  the 
other  meetings,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  retired  to  Leaming- 
ton, and  afterwards  went  to  Wotton,  where,  in  the 
month  of  August,  Mrs.  Sidney  and  I  I'isited  him  for  the 
last  time.  On  our  arrival,  I  found  that  he  had  enga- 
ged the  pulpit  of  the  church  for  me,  and  that  he  intend- 
ed to  shut  up  his  own  chapel  on  the  afternoons  of  the 


MY  LAST  VISIT  TO  MR.  HILL.  357 

two  Sundays  we  were  to  pass  with  him.  He  was  ex- 
tremely feeble,  and  was  evidently  breaking,  but  seemed 
generally  revived  by  preaching.  One  Sunday  morning 
he  said  to  Mr.  Jones — "You  must  preach  this  morn- 
ing; I  feel  good  for  nothing."  "No,  no,  sir,"  he  re- 
plied :  I  ventured  to  say,  "  I  hope  you  will,  Mr. 
Jones."  He  smiled,  and  said — "I  would  readily,  if  I 
did  not  think  a  sermon  would  do  Mr.  Hill  good,  and 
you  will  see  it  will."  Accordingly,  Mr.  Hill  preach- 
ed himself,  and,  as  I  heard  on  my  return  from  church, 
with  entire  forgetfulness  of  his  debility.  His  text 
was,  then  Manasseh  knexo  the  Lord:  2  Chron.  xxxiii. 
13 ;  and  he  spoke  for  more  than  an  hour  !  In  the 
morning  I  thought  him  utterly  une([ual  to  the  task  of 
addressing  his  people,  but  in  the  afternoon  he  was  full 
of  animation.  "  There,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Jones,  "  I  told 
you  preaching  would  cure  you ;"  to  which  he  answered 
good  humouredly,  "I  believe  you  were  right,  you 
cunning  Welshman."  He  next  turned  to  me  and 
said—"  Sidney,  I  wish  your  church  rules  would  let 
you  preach  for  us  this  evening."  "  Sir,"  I  replied,  "  I 
am  very  well  contented  to  obey  them  as  they  are." 
"  Ah  !"  he  exclaimed,  "  good  old  Mr.  Berridge  used 
to  give  notice,  (and  here  he  imitated  his  voice  and 
manner,)  '  Mr.  Gwinnapp  will  preach  upon  my  horse- 
block this  evening  ;  I  wish  I  could  ask  him  to  preach 
in  the  church.' "  This  said  Mr.  Gwinnapp  was  one 
of  Mr.  Berridge's  lay  coadjutors  when  Mr.  Hill  was 
at  Cambridge. 

On  the  last  day  I  ever  spent  with  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill,  I  was  invited  to  preach  at  a  neighbouring  village 
in  tlie  morning.  Though  he  had  been  to  hear  me  the 
previous  day,  when  I  took  the  weekly  lecture  in  the 
church  at  Wotton,  his  afiectionate  kindness  induced 
him  to  go  again.  I  never  saw  him  afterwards  in  a  place 
of  worsfiip  ;  but  the  solemn  and  devotional  feeling  he 
then  manifested  has  left  an  indelible  impression  on 
my  mind.  He  made  the  responses  of  the  liturgy  in  a 
subdued  but  feeling  tone,  lifting  up  his  hand  occasion- 


358  MY  LAST  VISIT  TO  MR.  HILL. 

ally,  and  laying  a  natural  and  appropriate  emphasis 
on  such  portions  of  the  prayers  as  more  particularly 
seemed  to  contain  petitions  for  the  blessings  he  most 
needed.  Numbers  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  people  were 
present,  and  it  was  most  affecting  to  see  the  manner  in 
which  they  crowded  round  him  as  he  left  the  church, 
pressing  to  shake  him  by  the  hand,  and  to  show  him 
every  possible  token  of  their  love.  As  we  were  to  go 
away  early  the  following  morning,  I  was  desirous  to 
have  taken  leave  of  Mr.  Hill  that  night,  but  he  said, 
"  No,  I  shall  see  you  to-morrow;"  and  accordingly 
soon  after  seven  o'clock,  to  our  surprise,  he  made  his 
appearance.  On  my  regretting  the  exertion  he  had 
made,  he  replied,  "  Never  mind,  I  shall  sleep  all  the 
better  to-night  for  my  early  rising ;  1  wished  to  see  the 
last  of  yon."  He  sat  down  in  a  chair  in  the  dining- 
room,  apparently  lost  in  thought,  and  when  I  took  him 
by  the  hand  at  parting,  he  could  scarcely  articulate, 
''  God  bless  you  both  !  I  shall  see  you  in  town  in  the 
spring,  if  I  live  so  long ;  but  I  feel  that  I  have  but  a 
short  season  longer  left  me  here."  This  was  my  final 
interview  with  him,  who  had  for  years  acted  towards 
me  with  the  affection  of  a  parent. 

The  increasing  weakness  of  Mr.  Hill  perpetually 
reminded  him  that  his  time  was  short,  and  allusions  to 
his  death  constantly  perv^aded  his  conversation  and 
letters.  He  remarked,  when  writing  to  a  friend,  "  As 
to  my  mind,  I  only  wish  to  commend  myself  to  the 
blessing  of  Him,  who  alone  can  preserve  us  in  our  so- 
lemn exit  from  this  world  of  wo."  He  further  con- 
tinues— "We  need  not  fear  sickness  or  death,  when 
once  we  can  confidently  say  by  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  death  is  suHtJIowed  iip  in  victory.  Alas  !  for 
me,  one  sermon  on  the  sabbath,  and  one  in  the  week, 
is  as  much  as  I  can  accomplish.  This  is  being  brought 
to  short  commons,  when  compared  with  what,  in  the 
former  part  of  my  life,  I  have  been  accustomed  to  per- 
form." Mr.  Hill's  inability  to  work  was  the  only 
source  of  his  disquietude  :  his  lamp  was  still  fiill  of  oil. 


LETTER  TO  THE  REV.  J.  LANGLEY.      359 

but  the  waning  of  the  flame  foretold  that  it  would  soon 
cease  to  burn. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  in- 
vited to  preach  in  the  church  at  Wallingford,  once 
served  by  his  old  friend  Mr.  Pentycross.  He  had 
been  there  in  1-831,  and  was  now  urged  to  return,  and 
was  offered,  as  an  additional  attraction,  other  pulpits 
in  adjacent  churches.  Mr.  Langley,  the  rector  of  St. 
Mary's,  Wallingford,  in  a  communication  he  oblig- 
ingly sent  me,  says,  "  Mr.  Hill  could  have  had  five  or 
six  churches  in  this  neighbourhood,  so  completely  had 
prejudice  worn  away,  and  it  was  his  rule  when  he 
could  get  the  church,  never  to  preach  in  a  meeting- 
house. In  1831,  when  he  preached  for  me,  he  preach- 
ed for  a  clerical  brother  at  Wooburn,  Bucks."  The 
following  letter  is  Mr.  Hill's  reply  to  Mr.  Langley's 
invitation  to  Wallingford : — 

Wotton-under-edge,  Nov.  I4:th,  1832. 
My  dear  Sir, 

No  wonder  that  a  man  in  his  89th  year  should, 
from  dinmess  of  sight,  be  obliged  to  write  by  dicta- 
tion. You  have  my  affectionate  thanks  for  yoar  kind 
invitation  to  your  house  and  pulpit :  Providence, 
however,  seems  to  direct  me  another  way.  Leaming- 
ton Spa,  though  a  very  growing  place,  has,  till  of  late, 
been  in  a  very  dead  state  respecting  the  means  of 
grace.  By  the  kind  providence  of  God,  I  have  been 
enabled  to  purchase  for  them  a  chapel,  in  which,  hav- 
ing established  our  liturgic  service,  many  have  been 
induced  to  hear  the  word  of  life. 

It  therefore  seems  to  be  my  duty  to  go  somewhat  out 
of  my  way  to  London,  in  order  that  I  may  nurse  up 
that  infant  cause.  Be  assuredl  otherwise  should  have 
been  glad  to  have  paid  Wallingford  another  visit,  and, 
had  strength  been  granted,  to  have  preached  in  other 
churches :  for  I  must  say  of  the  establishment,  as 
Cov;per  said  of  the  state, 


360  LETTER  TO  THE  REV.  J.  LANGLEY 

England !  with  all  thy  laults,  I  love  thee  still : 
though  I  have  my  fears  lest  the  present  talk  of  a  re- 
formation of  some  abuses  will  prove  of  no  eifect,  while 
some  outward  amendments  may  take  place,  and  she 
internally  not  be  the  better  for  it.  This  can  only  be 
accomplished  by  the  sending  forth  of  such  spiritual 
ministers,  as  are  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  take  upon  them  that  office  of  administration. 

I  hope  you  have-  accepted  the  invitation  to  preach 
the  annual  sermon  forour  Ca^/itoZic  Missionary  Society, 
it  being  willing  to  send  forth  ministers  of  any  Pro- 
testant denomination,  who  are  capable  of  holding  forth 
the  word  of  life  to  perishing  sinners.  If  you  have  no 
better  accommodations  when  you  come  to  London  in 
May  next,  (though  it  seems  presimiptuous  in  me  to  talk 
of  what  I  should  like  to  do  six  months  hence.)  I  should 
be  heartily  glad  to  give  you  and  Mrs.  Langley  bed 
and  board  at  my  house ;  and  if  you  choose  to  follow 
the  same  example  as  your  predecessor,  Mr.  Penty- 
cross,  you  shall  be  heartily  welcome  to  my  pulpit 
also.  Though  I  do  not  wish  to  see  these  walls  of 
separation  entirely  demolished,  yet  I  should  be  heartily 
glad  if  they  were  so  far  lowered,  as  that  we  could 
come  nearer  to  shake  hands  with  each  other.  Per- 
haps you  may  live  to  see  better  days  in  this  respect, 
though  I  cannot,  as  I  feel  the  time  of  my  departure 
is  just  at  hand. 

And  when  I'm  to  die, 
Receive  me  I'll  cr)'', 
For  Jesus  hath  loved  me,  I  cannot  tell  why. 

With  kindest  reo;ards  to  Mrs.  Langley,  believe  me  to  be, 
Most  sincerely  and  affectionately  vours, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 
Rev.  John  Langley, 

Rector  of  St.  Mary's,  Wallingford. 

I  have  not  mot  with  a  letter  more  characteristic  of 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  than  this  :  his  love  for  the  church, 
his  missionary  principles,  his  desire  to  obtain  clerical 


OLD  BIGOTRY.  361 

aid  in  Surry  chapel,  and  the  feehng  with  which  he 
anticipated  his  decease,  are  all  embodied  in  it.  The 
lines  quoted  were  perpetually  on  his  lips  for  nearly  a 
year  before  he  died;  and  when  he  came  to  the  last 
words,  he  would  repeat  them  with  a  strong  emphasis 
— "  No,  indeed,  I  cannot  tell  why — every  sinner  saved 
is  a  mysterious  monument  of  redeeming  love."  With 
regard  to  the  walls  of  separation  between  different 
orders  of  Christians,  he  did  not  wish  such  partitions 
destroyed,  "  but  only  lowered^  that  we  may  shake 
hands  a  little  easier  over  them,"  especially,  as  he 
would  have  willingly  added,  '\iold  Bigotry,  who  kept 
parties  close  prisoners  within  these  inclosures,  was 
but  dead  and  buried.  In  one  of  the  first  sermons 
preached  for  the  London  Missionary  Society,  Dr. 
Bogue,  eyeing  with  delight  the  mixed  congregation, 
exclaimed,  "  Behold  us  here  assembled  with  one  ac- 
cord to  attend  the  funeral  of  old  Bigotry^'  which 
caused  Mr.  Hill  to  write  an  epitaph  upon  her,  be- 
ginning 

Here  lies  old  Bigotry,  abhorred 
By  all  who  love  our  common  Lord. 

If,  however,  old  Bigotry  did  die  on  that  occasion,  Mr. 
Hill  seemed  to  think  she  had  been  succeeded,  to  her 
heart's  content,  by  Party-spirit.  This  may  be  gather- 
ed from  the  following  letter  to  me  : — 

Leamington  Spa,  Nov.  24:th,  1832. 
My  dear  Sidney, 

I  understand  you  wish  to  know  how  I  am,  and  as 
I  am  writing  to  Lord  Hill,  I  enclose  this  note  to  tell 
you  where  I  am,  and  that  I  hope  to  be  in  London  by 

the  latter  end  of  next  month as  I  am 

nearly  worn  down,  I  find  it  will  be  necessary  to  have 
an  assistant Though  I  have  no  particu- 
lar disease,  yet  the  lassitude  of  old  age  will  not  let  me 
do  the  things  that  I  would.  I  hope  some  good  is  do- 
ing in  this  place ;  but  after  all  my  efforts  to  establish 
a  place  of  worship  as  similar  to  the  church  as  cir- 
31 


362  PARTY  SPIRIT. 

cumstaiices  will  admit,  I  find  the  liio-h  clmrcli  party 
are  by  no  means  content  with  it.  They  talk,  there- 
fore,  of  building  for  themselves  ;  and  as  I  have  had 
trouble  enough  from  riafid  dissenters,  it  seems  I  am  to 
expect  a  similar  ti"ial  from  the  very  opposite  quarter. 
High  and  low  church  sectarianism  seems  to  be  the 
order  of  the  day :  we  are  much  more  busy  in  contend- 
ing ioxjicirties  than  for  jyrinciples.  I  hear  perpetually 
that  there  is  as  much  Vv'himsicality  and  defectiveness 
among  your  church  party  as  there  can  be  bigotry 
among  the  dissenters.  With  kind  love  to  Mrs.  Sidney, 
I  remain,  vours  sincerely. 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

TMien  Mr.  Hill  expressed  his  disappointment,  that 
though  he  came  "  as  near  the  church  as  possible,"'  he 
could  not  satisfy  her  members,  he  ought  to  have  re- 
flected, that  he  as  much  dissented  from  the  discipline, 
as  others  do  from  the  forms  or  doctrines  prescribed 
by  her  laws ;  and  that  the  clergy  were  quite  as  much 
justified  in  rigidly  maintauiing  their  order.,  as  he 
could  possibly  be  in  defendina:  his  own  system.  That 
party-spirit,  however,  is  dividing  and  weakening  the 
Christian  world,  is  a  fact  as  lamentable  as  it  is  unde- 
niable, and  results  in  a  great  measure  fr"om  a  want 
of  due  impression  as  to  our  accountableness  for  the 
moral  discipline  of  our  miderstandings.  Li  the  con- 
trol of  our  bodily  actions  we  refrain  from  our  incli- 
nations for  the  sake  of  reaping  an  ultimate  benefit ; 
but  as  respects  our  reason,  we  are  too  apt  to  do  as  we 
like,  and  will  not  give  up  a  single  particle  of  preju- 
dice or  opmion  to  promote  a  wider  union.  New 
parties,  new  societies,  are  formed  in  an  instant,  and 
as  quickly  deserted  again,  by  persons  who,  either  on 
cooler  reflection,  see  their  error,  or  with  all  the  im- 
petuosity of  an  unbridled  imagination,  spurred  on  by 
enthusiasm,  rush  into  the  wilds  of  fanaticism.  A 
man.  also,  is  more  frequently  judged  of,  in  these  days, 
b^--  the  party  he  belongs  to,  by  what  particular  things 


SOLEMN  MANNER  OF  MR.  HILL.  363 

he  admits  or  abstains  from,  than  by  the  general  tenor 
of  his  daily  Ufe;  and,  what  is  more  than  all  to  be  de- 
plored, an  angry  spirit  is  suffered  to  expel  from  the 
heart  brotherly  lo\'e  and  forbearance.  These  evils 
were  justly  deplored  by  iNIr.  Rowland  Hill,  as  evi- 
dences of  a  lack  of  genuine  Christianity.  True  faith, 
like  the  dove  sent  forth  by  Noah,  may  for  a  season 
hover  over  the  waters  without  finding  a  restincj  place, 
but  will  always  return  to  the  ark,  bearing  the  olive 
branch  of  peace  and  love. 

During  the  last  eighteen  months,  or  thereabouts, 
of  Mr.  Hill's  life,  he  engaged  in  almost  every  cause, 
with  the  impression  that  it  would  probably  be  the 
last  effort  he  should  make  for  it.  His  friend  ]\Ir. 
George  Clayton,  in  a  letter  to  me,  thus  strildngly  de- 
picted his  manner  and  feelings  on  one  of  these  occa- 
sions:— "The  last  time  he  occupied  my  pulpit  at 
Walworth,  when  he  preached  excellently  for  an  hour, 
on  behalf  of  a  charitable  institution,  (it  was  in  the 
winter  twelvemonth  before  his  death.)  he  retired  to 
the  vestry  after  service,  under  feelings  of  great  and 
manifest  exhausture.  There  he  remamed,  till  every 
individual  save  the  pew-openers,  liis  servant,  and 
myself,  had  left  the  place.  At  length,  he  seemed, 
with  some  reluctance,  to  have  summoned  energy 
enough  to  take  his  departure,  mtimating  that  it  was 
m  all  probability  the  last  time  he  should  preach  in 
Walworth.  Charles*  w-ent  before  to  open  the  car- 
riage door — the  pew-openers  remained  in  the  vestry. 
I  offered  my  arm.  which  he  declined,  and  then  fol- 
lowed him  as  he  passed  dowii  the  aisle  of  the  chapel. 
The  lio^hts  were  nearly  extinguished,  the  silence  was 
profound,  nothing  indeed  was  heard,  but  the  slow 
majestic  tread  of  his  own  footsteps,  when  in  an  under 
tone  he  thus  soliloquized. 

'  And  -when  Tm  to  die, 
Receive  me,  I'll  cr)'', 
For  Jesus  hath  loved  me,  I  cannot  tell  wh)' ; 

*  Mr.  Hill's  servant. 


"^e  fWT?  ax-r  - 
7  i:c  be  m  arl: 

To  niT  hciir:  :ij^  was  a  s ,  A  5.: !:::::- 
nitv.  nor  can  I  ever  re^^ir  * "  .-.l : :' '.:.,-.; 
hallowed,  se:  ■  _  -  .  isriiicii  it  ori- 
ginally aw:Lj:-_-  -  -  ■  ..  :5  ::.:':  :~fr- 
wroaght ;  no  hl.^  .  tss  31r.  1-. 
whe!:  ^     ,....---,-.  "■'     -~ 

pre-    _     _       , 


CHRISTIAN  sAEBATH.  385 


CH.1PTEII  XIX. 

CHRISTIAN  SABBATH. 

One  of  the  last  acts  of  "Mr.  Rowiand  Hi:'  ".' -  r :  , ' .  - 
lish;  in  the  Leainintrton  Spa  Courier,  an  e:c.  ::a:i  ;r.  lo 
the  due  observance  of  the  Christian  sabbath.  This 
was  attacked,  in  a  letter  to  the  editor,  by  a  person 
signing  Mmseh'  ••  Oliver."  who  called  it  "  a  sermon 
in  a  newspaper."  which  he  said  was  -certainly  a  rari- 
ty," and  added,  that  *■  if  an  individual  will  preach  in 
a  newspaper  instead  of  in  a  pulpit,  he  must  expect  to 
be  answered."'  The  writer  admitted-  that  the  word 
sabbath  sismifies  rest  from  labour,  and  that  the  com- 
mand requires  it  to  be  kept  holy,  but  exclaimed  against 
"a  puritanical  and  pharisaical  observance  of  the  day.^ 
or  '•  a  temporary  imprisomnent  and  a  ruefiil  visage." 
"The  man  of  business.^  he  also  observed,  -the  artisan, 
tiie  labourer,  who  is  necessarily  engaged  six  days. 
A^ould  find  the  seventh  so  irksome,  were  he  to  vennure 
on  the  course  advocated  in  your  correspondents  let- 
ter, that  the  day  of  rest  would  no  longer  be  consider- 
ed a  blessing."  To  these  observations  31r.  Hill  re- 
phed.  in  a  letter  dated  Surry  chapel.  Jan.  7.  1S33. 
and  assured  ^Ir.  Oliver  that  his  fece  was  -  not  a  whit 
longer  than  his  own.  and  that  he  was  ready  to  admix 
that  an  innocent  walk  in  the  open  air  with  a  serious 
friend,  engaged  in  some  proper  Sunday  talk,  may  t-e 
as  conducive  to  real  edification  as  being  shut  up  in 
some  gLx^my  habitation."  !Mt.  Hill  concluded  by 
placingthe  devotion  of  a  Christian,  and  his  keeping  the 
Sabbath-day.  upon  other  proper  scripting  grotmdSj 
calling  them  •■  tlie  easy  practice  of  such  as  are  made 
partakers  of  a  divine  nanire.  and  are  renewed  in  the 
31* 


366  SABBATH  PRIVILEGES. 

spirit  of  their  niinds."  Strict  observance  of  the  sab- 
bath was  forced  on  the  Jews  by  severe  denunciations 
and  appalhng  penalties ;  but  under  our  milder  dis- 
pensation, all  religious  duties,  though  not  less  binding 
on  that  account,  partake  of  the  nature  of  privilege. 
These  are  viewed  by  regenerate  men,  not  as  hard  and 
uncongenial  requirements,  but  as  spiritual  pleasures  ; 
the  law  no  longer  appears  on  tablets  of  stone,  but 
written  on  the  hearts  of  believers,  insures  obedience, 
not  to  its  letter  by  j^enaliies,  so  much  as  to  its  spirit 
by  love. 

Mr.  Hill  used  to  say  the  very  sunshine,  upon  the 
day  when  he  was  called  to  the  holy  privilege  of  serv- 
ing his  God,  seemed  more  genial  to  him  than  at  any 
other  time  :  he  never  thought  of  the  punishment  to  be 
inflicted  for  neglect  of  sabbath  duties,  but  was  wrapt 
up  in  holy  relish  of  their  sweetness.  That  wisely  re- 
gulated laws  should  enforce  respect  to  the  sabbath  is 
honourable  to  every  Christian  nation;  but  observance 
of  sabbatic  rest,  to  be  acceptable  to  God  and  truly 
profitable  to  man,  must  come  from  a  heart  changed 
and  sanctified  by  grace.  True  obedience  proceeds 
from  the  affections ;  and,  therefore,  Isaiah  not  only 
requires  of  the  Jews  external  observance,  but  to  call 
the  sabbath  a  deliglit*  Never  did  any  individual 
more  strongly  evince  this  feeling  than  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill;  and  they  who  spent  a  Sunday  in  his  company, 
were  always  much  struck  with  his  manner  and  ap- 
pearance, as  indicative  of  a  most  exalted  state  of 
piety,  and  a  serene  and  heavenly  pleasure  in  the 
worship  of  God.  He  used  sometimes  to  ejaculate, 
quoting  his  own  lines, 

O  for  the  grace  to  live  to  Thee, 
What  can  an  angel  T\-ish  for  more  ! 
Dear  Saviour,  come,  and  let  me  be 
The  subject  of  this  mighty  power. 

The  increasing  languor  and  debility  of  old  age  pre- 
vented Mr.  Hill,  in  the  spring  of  1833,  from  engaging 

*  Isaiah  Iviii.  13. 


LETTER  TO  THE  LADIES  OF  SURRY  CHAPEL.    367 

to  preach,  except  once  on  the  Sunday  in  Surry  chapel, 
and  he  was  obhged  to  be  supported  by  an  elevated 
and  not  very  easy  seat  in  the  pulpit.  The  ladies  of 
his  congregation,  observing  with  regret  that  he  ap- 
peared uncomfortable,  resolved  to  present  him,  with 
such  a  chair  as  would  obviate  all  the  inconvenience 
he  had  long  suffered.  This  they  sent  him  with  an 
appropriate  and  respectful  letter,  to  which  he  returned 
the  following  reply  : — 

February  I5th,  1833. 
My  very  dear  and  affectionate  friends, 

I  cannot  sufficiently  express  the  warmth  of  my 
gratitude  for  your  affectionate  present  of  such  a  com- 
modious chair  for  the  pulpit,  especially  as  it  is  a  proof 
of  the  very  kind  attention  manifested  by  some  of  the 
most  honourable  and  respectable  of  the  female  part 
of  the  congregation  assembling  in  Surry  chapel. 

As  I  cannot  expect  long  to  occupy  the  very  com- 
fortable accommodation  you  have  provided  for  me, 
may  I  therefore  entreat  you  to  address  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church,  that  he  would  send  you  such 
helps  and  ministers  as  shall  completely  outshine  the 
dwindling  taper,  whose  physical  strength  is  now  al- 
most exhausted,  though  not  his  affectionate  reofards 
to  a  congregation  who  have  always  manifested  such 
love  and  esteem. 

Though  I  feel  myself  less  than  the  least,  and  un- 
worthy of  such  kind  attention,  I  still  can  most  heartily 
subscribe  myself,  your  willing  servant  in  the  Redeem- 
er's cause. 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

Those  of  Mr.  Hill's  congregation  who  were  more 
particularly  favoured  Av^ith  his  friendship,  watched 
him  as  he  drew  near  to  the  grave  with  all  the  solici- 
tude of  children  for  a  parent.  He  had  nothing  to 
disturb  his  repose  in  extreme  old  age,  but  the  occa- 
sional derangement  of  the  somewhat  imperfect  ma- 


368      MR.  hill's  wishes  as  to  a  successor. 

chinery  by  which  his  system  was  carried  on  in  tlie 
several  places  of  worship  under  his  care.  To  this, 
particularly  as  respected  Leamington,  his  letters  con- 
stantly refer,  and  are  chiefly  short  dictations  on  mat- 
ters of  business,  and  arrangements  of  his  summer 
plans,  without  any  particular  sentiments  to  require 
their  introduction  into  these  pages.  Indeed,  all  his 
letters  were  written  amidst  the  hurry  and  interrup- 
tions of  his  num(?rous  engagements,  which  accounts 
for  their  unstudied  and  often  careless  style.  In  tliose 
I  received  from  him  a  few  weeks  before  his  death,  he 
alludes  chiefly  to  his  often  repeated  wish  to  be  suc- 
ceeded by  a  clergyman  at  Surry  chapel.  In  one  of 
them,  written  to  say  that  he  was  commissioned,  by 
the  patrons  of  a  church  likely  to  become  vacant  in  a 
large  and  populous  district,  to  inquire  if  I  would  ac- 
cept it,  he  observes — "  I  should  be  glad  to  get  you  to 
stop  short,  and  be  minister  of  Surry  chapel."  Mr. 
Hill  remained,  however,  steadfast  in  his  determination 
to  keep  it  open  on  what  he  called  his  broad  principle, 
and  this  was  quite  as  much  the  result  of  a  sense  of 
honour  as  of  inclination,  as  may  be  collected  from 
the  conversation  with  Mr.  CoUison  already  alluded 
to.  Three  times,  shortly  before  his  death  I  received 
communications  from  him  on  this  subject ;  the  se- 
cond of  wliich,  contained  in  a  letter  announcing  the 
intention  of  the  clergyman  of  the  church,  just  men- 
tioned not  to  resign  his  situation,  was  in  these  terms 
— "  I  have  no  other  preferment  to  otfer  you  but  that 
of  Surry  chapel,  but  as  we  cannot  put  ourselves  un- 
der the  management  of  the  established  church  I  must 
say  nothing  on  that  head."  Mr.  Hill  used  freely  to  ad- 
mit, that  as  a  useful  and  commanding  post,  the  church 
had  no  equal;  but  he  considered  that  even  this  might 
be  rendered  more  eificient,  without  any  violation  of 
principle,  and  particularly  by  giving  power  to  the 
clergy  to  admit  as  visiters,  ministers  of  certain  other 
orthodox  protestant  denominations. 

Some  such  concessions,  wisely  regulated  and  judi- 


PROPOSAL  FOR  A  DROLL  ADVERTISEMENT.      369 

ciously  used,  would  perhaps  tend  rather  to  increase  than 
diminish  the  stabihty  of  our  position  ;  but  the  great 
evil  to  be  deplored  in  the  present  day  is,  that  men, 
because  the  church  is  not  perfect  according  to  their 
views,  quit  it  altogether.  Every  church  made  up  of 
fallible  human  beings  must  necessarily  be  a  mixture  of 
flesh  and  spirit ;  but  to  make  defects  an  excuse  for  ir- 
regularities or  separation  is  contrary  to  the  spirit  and 
tenor  of  scripture,  which  rather  enjoins  us  to  correct 
than  to  forsake.  Where,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  invec- 
tives of  the  apostle  against  the  church  of  Corinth,  is 
there  a  single  word  to  be  found  about  withdrawing 
from  it ;  or  when  those  of  Asia  are  reproved,  can  any 
man  discover  a  command  to  separate  from  them  ?  It  has 
been  asked,  where  was  your  church  before  the  time  of 
the  reformers  ?  The  answer  to  this  is  obvious,  and 
has  often  been  given,  where  it  is  now.  It  was  ob- 
scured by  the  church  of  Rome,  of  which  it  never  was 
an  integral  member,  like  corn  in  the  midst  of  a  pro- 
fusion of  tares :  and  our  reformers  did  not  innovate, 
but  renovate,  they  did  not  institute,  they  only  restored. 
The  lapse  of  ages  will  necessarily  render  alterations 
of  some  kind  essential  in  all  human  institutions,  but 
it  yet  remains  to  be  proved  that  any  thing  has  been 
gained,  either  in  spirituality  or  usefulness,  by  those 
who,  approving  of  our  church's  standard  of  doctrine, 
have  deserted  her  because  of  some  defects  in  her  ma- 
chinery, which  can  only  be  gradually  accommodated 
to  the  changes  of  time. 

If  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  occasionally  made  remarks  on 
what  he  called  the  stiffness  of  the  church,  he  even 
more  strongly  censured  the  increasing  narrow-mind- 
edness he  witnessed  among  many  of  the  dissenters ; 
and  only  a  few  weeks  before  his  last  illness,  jocularly 
proposed  to  advertise  for  "  a  wet-nurse  of  the  same 
denomination,  in  the  family  of  a  dissenter  to  the  hack- 
hone,  to  take  care  of  a  child  who  was  to  be  brought 
up  to  the  saine  way  of  thi7iki?ig" — but  knowing  the 
really  excellent  qualities  of  his  heart,  few  persons 


370    MR.  hill's  last  letter  to  the  author. 

were  offended  by  his  humour.  In  the  postscript  of 
the  last  letter  I  ever  received  from  Mr.  Hill,  he  again 
alludes  to  his  wish  to  be  succeeded  by  a  clergyman. 
The  letter  itself  contains  nothing  of  any  moment,  but 
it  was  his  last  to  me,  and  it  shows  that  even  in  his 
89th  year,  the  energies  of  a  once  indefatigable  spirit 
were  not  quite  exhausted. 

Surry  chapel,  March  4:th,  1833. 
My  dear  Sidney, 

I  can  now  tell  you  my  arrangements,  that  you  may 
be  able  to  make  yours.  I  purpose,  by  the  will  of  God, 
to  leave  this  place  on  Tuesday,  the  thirtieth  of  April, 

for  Dorking The  next  day  I  go  to 

Brighton,  to  spend  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks 

......  From  the  latter  place  I  find  I  can  cross  the 

country  to  Oxford,  and  from  thence  to  Leamington, 
stay  there  alDout  a  month,  and  then  proceed  to  Wotton 
for  the  remainder  of  the  summer ;  at  which  place  I 
shall  be  happy  to  see  you  and  yours  as  long  as  you 
can  manage  to  stay. 

There  your  services  in  the  church  will  be  very  ac- 
ceptable, and  probably  useful 

I  am,  yours  very  sincerely, 

ROWLAND  HILL. 

P.  S could  you  but  hear  the  voice 

pronouncing,  "  loose  him  and  let  him  go,"  all  these 
matters  would  be  settled  at  once. 

I  am  induced  to  make  this  statement  of  Mr.  Hill's 
wish  respecting  his  successor,  by  the  various  reports 
which  I  have  heard  upon  the  subject.  No  doubt  he 
could  have  found  a  man  to  occupy  his  place  at  his 
decease,  with  all  the  qualifications  he  desired,  except 
episcopal  ordination,  among  the  many  pious,  liberal, 
and  enlightened  dissenters  of  his  acquaintance ;  but  he 
retained  the  fond  hope,  even  to  the  last,  that  he  should 
meet  with  a  clergyman,  as  he  styled  it,  "  panting  for 


MR.  hill's  last  sermon.  371 

more  liberty."  These,  however,  are  not  days  in  which 
the  members  of  our  church  can  complain  of  want  of 
Hberty,  and  surely  the  parochial  clergy  enjoy  as  much 
of  the  essentials  of  that  blessing,  as  the  ministers  of 
any  dissenting  community.  Assailed  as  our  church 
now  is,  it  becomes  us  to  unite  and  put  on  our  armour, 
remembering  that  our  breastplate  is  righteousness,  in 
which  we  must  shine  before  men.  The  armies  of 
Rome,  by  dazzling  the  eyes  of  their  opponents  with 
the  splendour  of  their  polished  breastplates,  often 
awed  them  to  surrender  without  drawing  a  sword : — 
we  hope  the  church  is  now  polishing  her  harness, 
and  that  she  will  conquer  rather  by  lustre  than  by 
strength.  When  Mr.  Hill  first  became  a  preacher, 
many  slept  upon  their  weapons,  or  woke  only  to 
thwart  those  who  were  willing  to  fight  the  battles  of 
the  Lord ;  and  in  such  a  case,  that  zealous  men  should 
require  a  little  more  liberty  to  go  forth  in  detach- 
ments, was  excusable  amidst  the  difficulties  of  their 
times  ;  bat  after  all,  it  is  from  our  well-formed  and 
disciplined  ranks  now  brought  into  the  field,  that  the 
final  decisive  victory  will  be  gained.  This  opinion 
is  not  less  warranted  by  scripture  than  by  reason,  as 
is  evident  from  the  language  of  St.  Paul,  who  writes 
to  the  Colossians,*  that  he  was  with  them  in  spirit, 
"  joying  and  beholding  their  oj'der  and  steadfastness 
of  their  faith  in  Christ" — and  it  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark how  strikingly  he  connects  crrepcu^M,  Jii-mness, 
with  T<«|(5,  order. 

It  is  time,  however,  to  pass  on  to  the  closing  scene 
of  the  days  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill.  Though  his  in- 
creasing weakness,  plainly  foretold  that  he  must  soon 
be  taken  from  his  people  and  liis  friends,  yet  he  was 
removed  at  last  in  a  more  sudden  manner  than  could 
have  been  anticipated.  On  Sunday,  March  31,  he 
preached  for  the  last  time,  on  1  Cor.  ii.  7,  8,  and  felt 
so  well  that  he  engaged  to  preach  again  on  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday,  to  the  teachers  of  the  Southwark 
*  Col.  ii.  5. 


372      ADDRESS  TO  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  TEACHERS. 

Sunday  School  Union,  but  he  became  so  extremely 
languid  on  that  day  as  to  be  obliged  to  request  his 
assistant,  Mr.  Weight,  to  officiate  for  him.  At  the 
conclusion  of  a  short  sermon  from  this  worthy 
minister,  Mr.  Hill  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  delivered, 
with  unusual  fervour  and  animation,  a  l)rief  and  af- 
fectionate address,  by  which  he  was  completely  ex- 
hausted. Feeble  as  he  was,  he  told  those  who  heard 
him,  he  rejoiced  still  to  feel  his  heart  in  the  work ; 
and  after  urging  them  to  dedicate  their  youth  to  the 
glory  of  God,  he  ended  with  invoking  the  divine 
blessing  on  their  labours.  This  was  his  last  effort : 
that  day  the  doors  of  Surry  chapel  closed  on  their  de- 
voted pastor  for  ever.  Notwithstanding  his  strength 
was  almost  gone,  Mr.  Hill  intended  to  preach  again 
on  Good  Friday,  and  though  at  breakfast  he  com- 
plained of  excessive  languor,  he  would,  had  not  Mr. 
Weight  been  present,  have  made  an  effort  to  occupy 
the  pulpit  on  that  day.  He  was  prevailed  on,  how- 
ever, not  only  to  give  up  preaching,  but  to  remain  in 
the  house  during  the  morning  service  ;  and  about 
one  o'clock  he  took  an  airing  in  his  carriage  towards 
Camberwell,  but  did  not  return  so  refreshed  as  was 
expected.  Still  he  remained  down  stairs  all  day,  and 
conversed  as  usual  with  persons  who  called  to  in- 
quire after  him.  A  surgeon,  who  came  in  during  the 
evening,  said  that  Mr.  Hill's  temporal  arteries  were 
distended,  and  threatened  apoplexy ;  but  by  judicious 
treatment,  these  appearances  were  so  far  removed, 
that  the  next  morning  he  rose  at  his  usual  hour  in 
good  spirits,  and  breakfasted  with  apparent  appetite. 
The  day  passed  off  comfortably,  and  in  the  evening 
he  had  the  newspapers  read  to  him  according  to  cus- 
tom, making  no  particular  complaint.  In  fact,  he 
thought  of  preaching  on  the  Sunday,  and  had  select- 
ed his  text  from  1  Pet.  i.  3  ;  but  though  not  well 
enough  to  attempt  a  sermon,  the  wliole  day  was  spent 
by  him  in  tolerable  comfort,  and  he  sat  up  till  ten 
o'clock  at  nisfht.     On  Easter  Monday  and  Tuesday, 


LAST  TLLNESS.  373 

the  boys  and  girls,  accompanied  by  their  Sunday 
teachers,  came  as  usual  in  procession  to  Surry  chapel ; 
but  they  were  never  more  to  hear  the  voice  which 
had  so  often  proclaimed  to  little  children  the  invita- 
tions of  a  dying  Saviour.  Their  devoted  friend 
prayed  earnestly  in  his  family  for  the  "  young  lambs" 
of  the  Redeemer's  fold,  watched  their  arrival  from 
the  window  of  his  drawing-room,  and  listened  to  their 
voices,  as  they  sung  in  assembled  thousands,  in  his 
chapel,  the  last  simple  and  touching  hymns  he  wrote 
for  them.  On  the  first  of  these  evenings,  he  dictated 
to  Mr.  Weight  a  string  of  aphorisms,  one  of  which  is 
singularly  descriptive  of  his  own  character — "He" 
(the  pious  minister)  "  will  not  consider  his  own  feel- 
ings, but  lay  himself  out  for  the  universal  good  of  his 
Saviour's  cause:  he  will  spend  and  be  spent  for  his 
Redeemer,  and  will  die  harnessed  as  a  good  soldier 
of  Jesus  Christ." 

During  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  Mr.  Hill's  servant, 
Charles,  observed  such  an  alteration  in  his  master, 
as  induced  him  to  send  to  inform  Lord  Hill  of 
his  situation.  His  lordship  was  unfortunately  out 
of  town,  but  his  nephew  and  aid-de-camp,  Captain 
George  Hill,  immediately  attended,  bringing  with  him 
his  uncle's  physician,  who,  in  common  with  the  other 
medical  men,  was  of  opinion  that  nature  was  giving 
way,  but  that  from  great  strength  of  constitution  he 
might  rally  for  a  short  time.  These  were  but  faint 
hopes  not  to  be  realized  ;  the  hand  of  death  was  upon 
him. 

The  same  tone  of  humility  and  self-abasement, 
which  characterized  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  through  life, 
was  visible  in  his  last  moments.  The  dying  lamp 
flared  not  forth  the  glittering  flame  of  presumptuous 
assurance,  but  shone  steadily  to  the  end  with  a  bright 
yet  lowly  hope.  Reviewing  his  past  doctrines,  he  de- 
clared, "  Were  I  to  live  my  life  over  again,  I  would 
preach  just  the  same" — looking  upwards  to  eternal 
glory,  he  cast  himself  into  the  dust,  and  only  said,  "  I 
32 


374  LAST  ILLNESS. 

shall  creep  into  heaven  through  some  crevice  in  the 
doorP  His  view  of  his  own  personal  interest  in 
Christ  seemed  nearly  lost  at  times,  in  a  sublime  con- 
templation of  the  Saviour's  glory ;  and  his  servant 
heard  him  cry  out  in  the  night, 

How  soon  •will  thy  seat  of  judgment  appear, 
Prepare  me  to  meet,  and  welcome  Thee  there. 

Both  when  asleep  and  awake,  his  favourite  lines, 
"  And  when  I'm  to  die,"  &.C.,  were  constantly  on  his 
lips.  Sometimes  he  repeated  part  of  his  own  beauti- 
flil  hymn:*— 

Gently,  my  Saviour,  let  me  down 
To  slumber  in  the  arms  of  death : 
I  rest  my  soul  on  Thee  alone, 
E'en  till  my  last  expiring  breath. 

And  he  was  overheard  saying  to  himself,  "  Eye  hath 
not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the 
heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared 
for  them  that  love  him." 

*  This  hymn  was  written  by  Mr.  Hill  for  the  comfort  of  a 
dying  member  of  his  Surry  chapel  congregation,  who  received 
it  a  few  hours  before  death.  I  found  it  amongst  his  papers,  in 
his  own  hand-writing,  and  I  believe  it  never  has  been  printed. 
It  is  called, 

THE  PRAYER  OF  THE  DYING  CHRISTIAN. 

Gently,  my  Saviour,  let  me  down 
To  slumber  in  the  arms  of  death  : 
I  rest  my  soul  on  Thee  alone. 
E'en  tilf  my  last  expiring  breath. 

Death's  dreadful  sting  has  lost  its  power  : 
A  ransom 'd  sinner,  sav'd  by  grace. 
Lives  but  to  die,  and  die  no  more, 
Unveil'd  to  see  thy  blissful  face. 

Soon  will  the  storm  of  life  be  o'er, 
And  I  shall  enter  endless  rest : 
There  shall  I  live  to  sin  no  more, 
And  bless  thy  name  forever  blest. 

Dear  Saviour,  let  thy  will  be  done  ; 
Like  yielding  clay  I  humbly  lie, 
May  every  murmuring  thought  be  gone, 
Most  peacefully  resign'd  to  die. 


LAST  ILLNESS.  375 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  before  he  died,  Mr.  Hill's 
mentalaberrations wereattimes verypainful :  biitwhen 
his  mind  did  not  wander,  from  the  effects  of  disease,  it 
was  beautifully  drawn  towards  heavenly  objects. 
During  one  of  the  intervals  of  calm  self-possession, 
he  called  for  his  servant,  and  desired  him  to  read  the 
fifth  chapter  of  the  second  epistle  to  the  Corinthians  ; 
at  the  fourth  verse :  he  looked  up  and  said,  "  Ah, 
Charles,  we  do  not  like  to  die !" — at  the  seventeenth 
verse,  he  exclaimed  in  a  strong  tone,  "  a  new  exist- 
ence, mind  that — ^Ah,  Charles,  I  shall  soon  leave 
you !" 

The  Rev.  George  Clayton  was  one  of  those  who 
were  admitted  to  Mr.  Hill's  room  when  he  drew  near 
his  end,  and  from  him  1  received  this  account  of  the 
last  interview  he  had  with  his  dying  friend  :  "  I  was 
at  his  bedside  within  a  few  hours  of  his  dissolution  : 
it  was  truly  an  impressive  scene.  Lord  Hill's  phy- 
sician was  with  him  when  I  arrived,  and  remarked 
that  nothing  more  could  be  attempted  for  the  vene- 
rable patient,  and  the  expected  change  must  soon 
take  place.  Mr.  Hill  grasped  my  hand  with  much 
affection,  and  said,  '  You  have  often  seen  me  ill,  and 
I  recovered ;  but  this  is  an  irrecoverable  complaint. 

Bid  me  possess  sweet  peace  within, 
Let  child-like  patience  keep  my  heart ; 
Then  shall  I  feel  my  heaven  begin 
Before  my  spirit  hence  depart. 

Yes,  and  a  brighter  heaven  still 
Awaits  my  soul  through  his  rich  grace. 
Who  shall  his  word  of  truth  reveal, 
Till  call'd  to  sing  his  endless  praise. 

Hasten  thy  chariot,  God  of  love, 
And  fetch  me  from  this  world  of  wo  ; 
I  long  to  reach  those  joys  above, 
And  bid  farewell  to  all  below. 

There  shall  my  raptur'd  spirit  raise 
Still  louder  notes  than  angels  sing  ; 
High  glories  to  Emmanuel's  grace, 
My  God,  my  Saviour,  and  my  King. 


376  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH. 

I  shall  not  get  over  it — it  is  a  solemn  thing  to  die. 
I  have  no  rapturous  joys,  but  peace — a  good  hope 
through  grace — all  through  grace.'  The  Rev.  T. 
Jackson,  who  was  in  the  chamber,  observed,  '  You 
would  not  give  up  the  hope  you  have,  sir,  for  all  the 
world' — 'No,'  said  he,  'not  for  ten  thousand  thou- 
sand vjorlds.  Christ  is  every  thing  to  a  dying  man 
— but  I  want  to  be  perfectly  holy — perfectly  like  my 
dear  Lord — without  holiness  there  is  no  such  thing 
as  getting  to  heaven.'  "  After  this  he  roused  himself, 
and  protested,  witii  a  stronge  effort,  against  the  evils 
and  dangers  of  Antinomianism,  when  Mr.  Clayton, 
finding  him  exhausted,  offered  up  a  short  prayer, 
and  retired. 

The  last  sign  of  sensibility  he  gave,  was  an  evi- 
dence that  he  understood,  though  unable  to  articulate, 
his  favourite  verses.  And  when  Fni  to  die.  t^'c.  repeated 
to  him  by  Mr.  Weight.  About  twenty-five  minutes 
before  six  on  Thursday  evening,  April  11,  his  happy 
spirit  was  released  from  the  bondage  of  mortality, 
without  sigh,  or  groan,  or  any  other  evidence  of  the 
agony  of  a  last  struggle.  Those  about  him  could 
scarcely  believe  he  was  gone,  so  peaceful  was  his  end 
— so  gently,  in  answer  to  his  own  prayer,  was  he  let 
down  to  slumber  in  the  arms  of  death. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  casts  I  ever  saw,  was 
taken  of  my  excellent  and  venerable  relative  after  his 
decease,  by  the  well-known  phrenologist  Deville,  the 
appearance  of  which  indicated  rather  a  balmy  rest 
in  slumlier,  than  the  painful  fixedness  of  a  corpse  in 
death.  The  organs  of  his  fine  head  were  considered 
to  be  indicative  of  the  prominent  characteristics  of 
his  nature — -benevolence,  quickness  of  perception, 
strong  attachment,  firmness  approaching  to  self-will- 
edness,  devotion  to  the  truth,  kindness  to  children, 
love  of  approbation,  mirthfulness,  attention  to  pro- 
perty, sense  of  justice.  I  was  prevented  by  ilhiess 
from  seeing  my  dear  guardian  at  the  last ;  but  this 
beautiful  bust  in  possession  of  the  celebrated  phre- 


FUNERAL.  377 

nologist,  to  whom  it  belongs,  made  an  indelible  im- 
pression on  my  memory. 

As  soon  as  the  death  of  the  venerable  minister  be- 
came Imown,  all  parties  seemed  to  unite  in  doing 
honour  to  his  memory.  He  was  buried,  at  his  own 
request,  beneath  the  pulpit  of  Surry  chapel,  on  Fri- 
day, April  19,  and  was  followed  to  the  grave  both  by 
clergymen  and  dissenting  ministers.*  The  funeral 
was  admirably  conducted,  and  all  confusion  prevent- 
ed by  excellent  regulations.  The  vast  congregation, 
nearly  all  in  deep  mourning,  were  admitted  by  tickets, 
and  presented,  as  they  filled  the  galleries  hung  with 
black  drapery,  a  mournful  contrast  to  the  animating 
scenes  witnessed  in  the  same  place  for  nearly  half  a 
century.  The  vicinity  of  the  chapel  exhibited  every 
possible  token  of  respect,  and  shops  partially  shut, 
private  houses  with  closely  drawn  blinds,  crowds  in 
black,  unable  to  gain  admittance  to  the  ceremony, 
showed  that  the  last  homage  was  being  paid  to  a 
person  of  no  ordinary  popularity.  Soon  after  eleven, 
the  solemn  procession  left  the  house,  and  as  it  entered 
the  chapel,  a  dirge  was  played  upon  that  fine-toned 
organ,  whose  nofes  had  so  long  been  sounds  of  glad- 
ness in  the  ears  that  now  could  hear  no  longer. 
Lord  Hill  attended  as  chief  mourner,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  those  invited  to  be  present  at  the  cere- 
mony. Dr.  Collyer  read  the  first  part  of  the  burial 
service,  when  a  hymn  was  sung,  the  last  verse  of 
which  was  often  on  the  lips  of  him  they  were  com- 
mitting to  the  tomb : 

"  When  from  the  dust  of  death  I  rise, 
To  take  my  mansion  in  the  skies, 
E'en  then  shall  this  be  ail  my  plea, 
Jesus  hath  liv'd  and  died  for  me." 

*  One  of  these,  Mr.  Theophilus  Jones,  Mr.  Hill's  Wotton  as- 
sistant, so  often  mentioned  in  this  work,  came  to  London  to  attend 
the  funeral  while  under  the  effects  of  a  slight  attack  of  influenza. 
The  journey  and  the  excitement  of  the  mournful  scene  increased 
it  to  such  a  degree,  that  he  died  in  a  few  weeks  after  he  had  fol- 
lowed his  venerable  patron  to  the  grave. 

32* 


378  FUNERAL. 

As  these  words  were  singing,  the  cofiin  was  gently 
lowered  into  the  grave,  when  the  faltering  voices  in 
the  choir,  and  the  sobbing  of  such  as  were  unable  to 
refrain  from  audible  expressions  of  their  grief,  pre- 
sented a  scene,  which  the  lapse  of  many  years  will  not 
efface  from  the  memories  of  those  who  witnessed  it. 
When  the  minister  who  read  the  conclusion  of  the 
service,  substituted  the  word  father  for  that  of  bro- 
ther, a  simultaneous  burst  of  grief  seemed  to  escape 
from  the  v/hole  congregation.  Those  who  had  hither- 
to suppressed  their  emotions,  were  unable  longer  to 
subdue  them,  when  touched  with  the  tenderness  of  that 
deserved  and  endearing  appellation.  The  moment 
when  the  body  of  one  long  beloved  is  committed  as 
dust  to  dust  and  ashes  to  ashes,  is  generally  that  in 
which  sorrow,  before  successfully  controlled,  breaks 
forth  from  the  recesses  of  the  soul — the  hollow  sound 
of  the  coffin,  when  the  earth  is  cast  upon  it,  is  ever 
the  signal  for  an  overflow  of  the  accumulated  flood  of 
mental  anguish.  The  power  of  that  simple  but  touch- 
ing ceremony  was  never  more  fully  evinced  than  on 
this  day ;  thy  who  had  hitherto  remained  silent  and 
resigned,  now  wept  aloud. 

After  a  prayer  from  the  Rev.  George  Clayton,  fol- 
lowed by  the  singing  of  Luther's  hynm,  Mr.  Jay 
ascended  the  pulpit  to  deliver  a  funeral  sermon  over 
tlie  tomb  of  his  departed  friend.  His  text  was.  Zech. 
xi.  2  ; — Howl,  fir-tree,  for  the  cedar  is  fallen.  The 
affecting  service  was  concluded  by  a  prayer  from  the 
Rev.  George  Collison.  When  all  was  over,  many 
looked  into  the  grave,  and  dropped  a  parting  tear  up- 
on the  coffin,  in  which  the  form  they  once  loved  to 
gaze  upon,  now  lay  silent  and  unseen,  beneath  the 
very  spot  whence  he  had  so  long  proclaimed  the  mer- 
cies and  terrors  of  the  Lord.  His  people  can  now  be- 
hold his  face  no  more  in  the  flesh, but  tliey  wiU  see  him 
again  on  that  day,  when  preachers  and  hearers  shall 
render  up  their  separate  accounts  before  the  judg- 
ment-seat of  Clnist.     "  There  he  lies,"  said  Mr.  Jay, 


MR.  hill's  spotless  CHARACTER.  379 

pointing;  to  the  grave  over  which  he  was  preach- 
ing— "  Who  hes  ? — The  preacher  once,  the  wit- 
ness now." 

The  will  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  an  object  of 
much  curiosity  at  the  time  of  his  death  ;  but  the  only 
bequest*  necessary  to  be  mentioned  here,  is  that  the 
residue  of  his  property  was  left  to  the  Village  Itine- 
rancy, including,  with  certain  deductions,  his  cha- 
pels and  their  appurtenances  at  AVotton  and  Leam- 
ington.t 

Thus  ended  the  earthly  pilgrimage  of  one  of  the 
most  devoted  messengers  of  gospel  truth  that  ever  de- 
clared the  way  of  mercy  to  mankind.  It  may  be  tmly 
said  of  him,  that  from  the  early  age  of  boyhood,  to 
the  hoary  hairs  of  one  approaching  his  ninetieth  year, 
he  had  never  spent  a  day,  except  confined  by  sick- 
ness, without  some  effort  to  promote  the  cause  of  his 
Redeemer,  and  this  with  no  less  energy  when  frown- 
ed on  by  his  family,  and  despised  by  the  world,  than 
when  he  lived  amidst  the  kindest  attentions  from  re- 
lations, and  basked  in  the  exhilarating  beams  of  an 
unequalled  popularity.  Though  he  was  surrounded 
by  many  enemies  in  the  early  part  of  his  career,  not 
one  of  them  could  discover  a  spot  in  his  character  ; 
and  notwithstanding  the  fire  of  his  eager  spirit,  the 
occasional  haste  with  which  he  acted,  and  the  eccen- 
tric course  in  which  he  moved,  he  has  left  behind  him 
not  only  a  lasting  fame  for  unwearied  diligence,  un- 
daunted resolution,  and  extraordinary  success,  but 
that  which  alone  can  give  weight  to  the  instructions 
of  any  minister,  an  unsullied  reputation.  What  is  a 
minister  without  a  character  7  was  his  frequent  in- 

*  It  may,  however,  be  noticed,  that  alwaj-s  the  kindest  and  most 
affectionate  of  masters  while  he  lived,  he  did  not  forget  a  liberal 
provision  for  his  faithful  servants. 

t  At  the  death  of  Mr.  Hill,  the  numerous  societies  he  supported 
drew  up  resolutions  expressive  of  their  respect  to  his  memory. 
Amongst  others,  the  Village  Itinerancy  put  forth  a  long  and  able 
testimony  to  his  character  and  usefulness,  and  it  is  only  justice  to 
them  to  add,  before  they  were  informed  of  his  bequest. 


380  ANECDOTES. 

quiry — his  was  not  only  unstained,  but  unsuspect- 
ed ;  and  whenever  a  cloud  passed  across  his  sun,  no 
one  doubted  that  the  hght  was  still  unminglcd  with 
impurity,  though  obscured  for  an  instant.  It  was 
the  study  of  Mr.  Hill's  entire  life  to  maintain  an  un- 
tarnished honour,  and  it  was  his  nature  too  :  he  did 
not  shine  in  public  with  a  light  extinguished  in  pri- 
vate, but  was  himself  the  example  of  his  own  pre- 
cepts. Once  he  was  called  to  occupy  the  pulpit  of  a 
person  whose  character  was,  alas  !  not  altogether  im- 
maculate, and  who  worried  him  with  apologies  be- 
cause he  could  not  offer  him  a  cassock.  "  Sir,"  said 
Mr.  Hill,  who  could  not  disguise  his  sentiments,  "  I  can 
preach  without  my  cassock,  but  not  without  my  cha- 
racter— character  is  of  immense  miportance,  sir,  to  a 
preacher  of  God's  holy  gospel."* 

A  consciousness  of  real  virtue  made  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill  indifferent  to  the  remarks  of  his  enemies.  On  a 
particular  occasion,  he  was  scurrilously  attacked  in 
one  of  the  public  journals,  and  was  urged  by  a  zealous 
friend,  exasperated  against  the  writer,  to  bring  a  le- 
gal action  in  defence.  To  this  the  venerable  servant 
of  God  replied,  with  calm,  unruffled  dignity — "I 
shall  neither  answer  the  libel,  nor  prosecute  the 
writer,  and  that  for  two  reasons — first,  because,  in 
attempting  the  former,  I  should  probably  be  betrayed 

*  Mr.  Hill  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  urging  on  young  min- 
isters the  necessity  of  a  spotless  reputation.  He  was  once  ad- 
dressing a  number  of  candidates  for  the  sacred  office,  and  in 
adverting  to  this  his  constant  theme,  said — "  I  will  tell  you  a 
story.  A  barber  having  amassed  a  comfortable  independence, 
retired  to  his  native  place,  where  he  became  a  preacher  in  a  small 
chapel.  Another  person  from  the  same  village,  being  similarly 
fortunate,  settled  there  also,  and  attended  the  ministry  of  the  bar- 
ber. Wanting  a  new  wig,  he  said  to  his  pastor,  '  you  might  as 
well  make  it  for  me,'  to  which  he  assented.  The  wig  was  sent  home 
badly  made,  but  charged  at  nearly  double  the  usual  price  !  The 
good  man  said  nothing,  but  when  any  thing  particularly  profita- 
ble escaped  the  lips  of  the  preacher,  he  observed  to  himself,  '  ex- 
cellent— but  oh!  the  vigl'  When  the  barber  prayed  with  appa- 
rent unction,  he  also  thought,  'This  should  touch  my  heart — but 
oh  !  the  vig !'  Now  my  dear  young  brethren,  wherever  you  are 
placed,  remember  the  wig .'" 


MR.  ROWLAND  HILL's  APPEARANCE.  381 

into  unbecoiTiing  violence  of  temper  and  expression, 
to  my  own  grief,  and  the  wounding  of  my  friends  ; 
and  in  the  next  place,  I  have  learned  by  experience, 
that  no  nianUs  character  can  be  eventually  injured 
hut  hy  his  ow7i  acts^ 

The  person  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  is  well  known  to 
the  public.  He  was  rather  above  the  middle  height 
in  stature,  and  when  young  was  remarkably  thin, 
though  wonderfully  strong  and  active.  His  coun- 
tenance was  expressive  of  the  complexion  of  his 
mind,  and  the  play  upon  his  lips,  and  piercing  look 
of  his  small  gray  eyes,  denoted  both  intelligence  and 
humour.  When  between  fifty  and  sixty  years  of 
age,  his  fine  upright  figure,  combined  with  a  high- 
bred, gentleman-like  deportment,  caused  him  to  be 
the  subject  of  general  admiration  ;  and  when  the 
weight  of  eighty  years  rested  on  his  head,  his  erect 
form  was  not  bowed  down,  nor  was  the  vigour  of 
his  mind  in  the  slighest  degree  impaired.  A  few 
years  ago,  a  gentleman  in  a  country  town  followed  a 
crowd  into  a  chapel,  not  the  least  knowing  who  was 
to  be  the  preacher ;  on  returning  home,  he  said — "  1 
have  seen  a  man  with  such  a  commanditig  air  as  I 
never  witnessed  before — who  can  it  be?"  It  was 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill ;  and  this  was  the  effect  his  appear- 
ance produced  on  all  who  saw  him  in  his  latter  days  ; 
and  as  Johnson  said  of  Burke,  if  any  person  had 
merely  chanced  to  take  shelter  with  him  from  a 
shower,  he  would  have  gone  home  and  said,  "  I 
have  seen  an  extraordinary  man." 

In  his  theological  opinions,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  lean- 
ed towards  the  tenets  of  Calvin,  but  what  is  called 
Hyper-Calvinism  he  could  not  endure.  Li  a  system 
of  doctrine  he  was  the  follower  of  no  man,  but  drew 
his  sermons  fresh  from  a  prayerful  reading  of  t\te 
Bible,  and  happy  would  it  be  for  all  ministers  if  they 
followed  his  example.  By  faith,  and  earnest  entreaty 
for  divine  teaching,  he  let  down  his  vessel  into  the 
wells  of  salvation,  and  the  water  came  up  clear,  un- 


382  DANGER  OF  IMITATION. 

polluted  by  human  traditions,  unfiavoured  by  dogmas, 
and  unadulterated  by  the  muddy  conceits  of  man's 
fancied  discoveries.  He  was  for  drawing  together  ail 
the  people  of  God  wherever  they  could  meet,  and  was 
willing  to  join  in  a  universal  communion  with  Christ- 
ians of  every  name.  When  on  one  occasion  he  ha,d 
preached  in  a  chapel,  where  none  but  baptized  adults 
were  admitted  to  the  sacrament,  he  wished  to  have 
communicated  with  them,  but  was  told  respectfully, 
"  You  cannot  sit  down  at  our  table" — he  only  replied 
calmly,  "  I  thought  it  was  the  Lord's  table." 

That  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  made  the  means  ol 
great  usefulness,  no  person  acquainted  with  his  his- 
tory can  deny ;  nor  can  man  dictate  a  course  of  ac- 
tion, to  those  evidently  raised  up  of  God,  in  slugo-ish 
times,  for  the  purpose  of  awakening  the  dormant  en- 
ergies of  the  church.  The  danger  is,  lest  others 
should  imitate,  in  days  totally  different  from  those  in 
which  he  first  appeared,  what  in  the  present  state  of 
things  would  be  much  more  injurious  than  beneficial. 
No  mode  of  religion  can  be  arranged  by  our  finite 
and  imperfect  faculties,  so  as  to  suit  the  composition 
of  every  mind,  or  meet  the  difficulties  of  every  case  ; 
but  if  individuals  are  generally  to  prescribe  for  them- 
selves, and  apply  their  own  remedies  to  particular 
portions  of  the  system,  they  will  soon  pay  dearly  for 
their  interference,  by  the  derangement  of  the  whole 
body.  Were  every  soldier  to  fight  with  the  weapons 
he  thinks  himself  best  skilled  to  use,  or  to  occupy 
such  a  post  as  appears  most  advantageous  to  himself, 
it  is  evident  that  single  and  irres^ilar  instances  of 
courage  would  but  ill  atone  for  the  want  of  combined 
and  uniform  effect  in  an  entire  battalion.  Had  Mr. 
Hill  confined  himself  for  these  last  thirty  years  to  the 
community  of  which  by  ordination  he  was  a  member, 
his  talents  as  a  preacher,  his  exalted  character,  and 
distinguished  family  connexions,  would  have  opened 
to  him  a  wide  and  most  influential  field  of  action,  and 
he  would  have  been  spared  numerous  trials  and  em- 


WRITINGS  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  383 

barrassments  in  which  he  was  involved,  from  want 
of  a  well  defined  rule  of  action.  His  disinterestedness, 
true  piety,  fervent  zeal,  great  success  in  conversions, 
the  age  in  wliich  he  first  became  a  preacher,  and 
the  peculiarities  of  his  nature,  will,  however,  form  an 
apology  for  a  course  in  which  few  would  have  the 
power,  if  they  possessed  the  inclination,  to  follow  him. 
He  that  presumed  to  guide  himself  in  a  similar  path, 
would,  like  Phaeton  in  the  fable,  when  he  ventured  to 
drive  the  chariot  of  the  sun,  be  precipitated  speedily 
from  his  position,  and  become  like  him,  in  all  but  no- 
toriety, 

Infelix  currus  auriga  paterni. 

In  one  thing  all  may  follow  him — daily  penitence 
before  God ;  and  never  was  a  more  beautiful  idea, 
than  that  which  he  repeatedly  thns  expressed — "If  I 
may  be  permitted  to  drop  one  tear,  as  I  enter  the 
portals  of  the  city  of  my  God,  it  will  be  at  taking  an 
eternal  leave  of  that  beloved  and  profitable  companion, 
RepentanceP 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  too  much  occupied  by  a 
perpetual  round  of  preaching,  and  other  active  engage- 
ments, to  devote  much  time  to  literary  pursuits,  or 
composition.  He  was  a  veiy  fair  scholar,  and  used 
sometimes  jocularly  to  say,  "  I  am  thankful  I  am  not 
obliged,  when  I  quote  a  passage  from  the  classics,  to 
confess,  like  John  Banyan,  (dear  honest  old  soul)  the 
Latin  I  horroicedP  In  his  controversial  pamphlets 
he  displayed  great  acuteness  of  reasoning,  always 
seizing  upon,  and  exposing  the  weak  points  of  his 
opponents ;  but  I  am  compelled  to  acknowledge  that 
the  shafts  of  his  ridicule  were  often  too  keenly  sharp- 
ened, and  that  his  bow  was  strung  too  much  after  the 
fashion  of  the  world.  This,  however,  was  an  error 
into  which  many  other  good  men  have  fallen,  and 
which  they,  as  well  as  my  beloved  relative,  lamented 
in  riper  years  and  a  maturer  state  of  grace.  His  hymns 
and  Token  for  Children,  are  delightful  productions, 
worthy  to  be  introduced  into  every  Sunday  school : 


384  JUVENILE  WORKS. 

his  catechism  also  deserves  to  be  better  Imown.  The 
Token  for  Children  commences  with  a  sermon  to  the 
young,  which  those  who  read  it  will  acknowledge  to 
be,  for  plainness  of  language  and  adaptation  to  the 
infant  understanding,  a  model  for  such  addresses. 
It  contains  excellent  oloservations,  mingled  with  sim- 
ple and  engaging  anecdotes,  one  of  which,  as  a 
sample  of  his  attractive  mode  of  writing  for  and 
speaking  to  children,  I  will  introduce  here.  "As  chil- 
dren love  stories,  I  will  tell  you  another.  Walking 
through  my  field  on  a  winter's  morning,  I  met  with 
a  lamb,  as  I  thought,  dead  ;  but  taking  it  up,  I  found 
it  just  alive  ;  the  cruel  mother  had  almost  starved  it 
to  death.  I  put  it  into  my  bosom,  and  brought  it  to 
my  house  :  there  I  rubbed  its  starved  limbs,  warmed 
it  by  the  fire-side,  and  fed  it  with  warm  milk  from 
the  cow.  Soon  after  the  lamb  revived  :  first,  it  fear- 
ed me  ;  but  afterwards  it  thoroughly  loved  me.  As 
I  mostly  fed  it  with  my  own  hand,  so  it  followed  me 
wherever  I  went,  bleating  after  me,  whenever  it  saw 
me,  and  was  always  happy  when  it  could  frisk 
around  me,  but  never  so  pleased  as  when  I  would 
carry  it  in  my  arms.  But  you,  dear  children,  have 
had  more  from  your  parents  and  friends  than  ever 
my  lamb  received  from  me  ;  what  ungrateful  hearts 
must  yours  be,  if  you  do  not  love  your  parents  and 
friends  ten  times  better  than  ever  my  lamb  loved  me. 
And  let  me  now  remind  you  of  a  still  better  story. 
Jesus  is  a  shepherd,  the  shepherd  of  souls ;  and  of 
him  it  is  said,  '  he  carries  the  lambs  in  his  bosom, 
and  gently  leads  those  that  are  with  young.'  If  you 
desire  to  love  Jesus,  I  dare  say  your  parents  will  let 
you  read  that  blessed  book,  the  Bible,  though  good 
children  alone  wish  for  such  a  favour.  There  you 
will  hear  such  things  of  the  love  of  Christ  to  poor 
ruined  sinners,  as  I  hope  will  melt  your  eyes  to  tears, 
and  your  hearts  to  love."*     That  one  whose  element 

*  Instructions  for  Children,  or  a  Token  of  Love,  &c.  London : 
Page  and  Sons,  Blackfriars'  Road.  1832.  p.  16. 


VILLAGE  DIALOGUES.  385 

was  in  the  highest  regions  of  sublime  and  lofty 
thought,  should  thus  descend  into  the  very  midst  of 
the  lambs  of  the  fold,  and  rejoice  to  lead  them  to  the 
gentle  flow  of  the  source  of  an  eternal  spring  of  liv- 
ing waters,  and  to  the  tenderest  herbage  of  a  gospel's 
greenest  pastures,  is  surely  an  evidence  of  such  love 
as  none  fjut  new-born  souls  can  enjo^-,  and  will  be 
considered  as  an  atonement  for  any  expressions  of 
warmth  or  satirical  invective,  to  which  he  gave  vent 
in  times  of  controversial  excitement,  and  which  no 
one  more  sincerely  lamented  than  himself 

The  opinions  of  Mr.  Ambrose  Serle  on  the  Warning 
to  Professors,  and  the  Village  Dialogues,  already  giv- 
en, preclude  the  necessity  of  my  adding  to  them  many 
remarks  of  my  own.  He  wrote  most  of  the  Dialogues 
on  separate  slips  of  paper,  after  jMrs.  Hill  had  retired 
for  the  night ;  and  I  remember  his  oiice  saying  to  me, 
when  speaking  of  the  pathetic  portions  of  the  work — 
"  When  I  read  them  over  I  used  to  burst  out  a  cry- 
ing." There  are  few  who  could  peruse  unmoved  lus 
Prodigal's  Return,  and  Funeral  of  Mr.  Merriman, 
descriptions  true  to  nature,  because  dra\vn  from  the 
remembrance  of  such  events  coming  under  his  own 
observation ;  and  indeed  almost  every  character  por- 
trayed in  these  volumes,  is  from  the  original  of  some 
devoted,  eccentric,  or  profligate  individual.  The 
religious  doctrines  advanced  in  the  course  of  these 
conversations  are  conformable  to  the  articles  and  litur- 
gy of  our  establishment ;  but  I  am  convinced  the  work 
would  have  been  much  more  useful,  and  certainly  less 
exceptionable,  had  the  place  of  ludicrous  satire  on 
negligent  ministers,  both  in  and  out  of  the  church, 
been  supplied  by  a  more  serious  and  expostulatory 
method  of  treating  evils,  arising  from  an  awful  care- 
lessness of  pastoral  duties.  The  consequence  result- 
ing from  such  unpardonable  heedlessness,  are  far  too 
appalling  to  be  alluded  to,  in  atone  even  approaching 
to  levity.  Souls  are  lost  by  them,  and,  to  use  the 
sublime  idea  of  the  great  Robert  Hall,  were  all  nature 
33 


386  RESPONSIBILITY  OF  MINISTERS. 

to  become  animated  and  vocal,  it  could  not  utter  a 
groan  sufficiently  deep,  or  a  cry  sufficiently  piercing, 
to  express  the  magnitude  and  extent  of  such  a  stu- 
pendous catastrophe.  Certainly  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
did  not  view  the  laughable  events  described  by  him 
as  happening  to  ministers,  in  such  a  light  as  this :  and 
it  was  always  his  custom,  when  speaking  in  private  to 
those  engaged  in  the  sacred  office,  to  address  them 
withagravityof  mannerwhich  tended  to  impress  upon 
their  minds  the  deep  responsibility  that  rested  on  them. 
I  have  seen  young  clergymen,  whom  he  Idndly  noticed 
as  my  friends,  affected  almost  to  tears,  even  when  they 
recollected  the  counsel  he  had  given  them  ;  and  sure 
I  am,  that  no  human  being  ever  felt  more  strongly 
the  value  of  souls,  or  the  infinite,  the  overwhelming 
solemnity  of  ministerial  engagements.  This  has,  I 
trust,  already  appeared  in  these  pages :  his  orb  shone 
brightly  and  steadily,  during  a  lengthened  period  of 
unwearied  labour  ;  and  the  venial  eccentricities  of  his 
character,  were  only  as  sparks  thrown  off  in  the  ra- 
pid revolutions  he  made  in  his  peculiar  course. 

A  tablet,  surmounted  by  a  bust,  is  soon  to  be  erected 
in  Surry  chapel  to  the  memory  of  my  beloved  and  af- 
fectionate guardian,  with  the  following  inscription : — 


TABLET  IN  SURRY  CHAPEL.  387 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  LATE 

REVEREND  ROWLAND  HILL,  A.  M., 

FORMERLY  OF 

SAINT  John's  college,  Cambridge, 

AND  FOR 

HALF  A  CENTURY  THE  ZEALOUS,  ACTIVE,  AND  DEVOTED 

MINISTER  OF  SURRY  CHAPEL, 

THIS  TABLET  IS  ERECTED,  BATHER  IN  TOKEN 

OF 

THE  GRATEFUL  RECOLLECTIONS  OF 

A  REVERED  PASTOR, 

BY  HIS  BEREAVED  AND  MOURNING  CONGREGATION, 

THAN  AS  A  TRIBUTE 

SUITABLE  TO  THE  WORTH  OF  ONE, 

THE 

IMPERISHABLE  MONUMENTS  OF  WHOSE  LABOURS 

ARE  THE 

NAMES  WRITTEN  IN  HEAVEN  OF  THE  MULTITUDES  LED  TO  GOD 

BY  HIS  LONG  AND  FAITHFUL  MINISTRY. 

HIS  MORTAL  REMAINS 

WERE  INTERRED  IN  THIS  CHAPEL  ON  THE 

NINETEENTH  DAY  OF  APRIL, 

A.  D.  MDCCCXXXIIL 


388         RELIGION  DURING  THE  LAST  CENTURY. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

RELIGION  DURING  THE  LAST  CENTURY. 

The  course  pursued  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  and  his 
associates,  can  never  be  fully  appreciated,  without  a 
brief  retrospect  of  the  relis^ious  state  of  this  country, 
at  the  time  when  they  first  commenced  their  exertions. 
From  the  restoration  of  the  Stuarts  to  the  accession 
of  the  house  of  Hanover,  the  church  of  England  was 
not  without  many  able,  zealous,  and  learned  advocates 
of  the  cause  of  religion ;  nor  has  she,  at  any  other 
period  of  her  history,  been  favoured  with  men  of 
greater  erudition  and  powers  of  reasoning.  Without, 
however,  detracting  from  the  merits  of  such  able 
writers,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  their  talents 
were,  with  very  few  exceptions,  employed  rather  to 
inculcate  and  defend  systems  of  divinity,  and  modes  of 
church  government,  than  to  awaken  a  sense  of  the  per- 
sonal  nature  and  heart-renewing  influences  of  genuine 
Christianity.  Upon  the  restoration  of  the  royal  fami- 
ly, the  theme  of  every  treatise  was  conformity^  in 
order  to  eradicate  the  lax  discipline  of  the  late  times  ; 
but  as  soon  as  the  hostility  of  popery  to  our  church 
appeared,  a  controversy  immediately  commenced  be- 
tween our  divines  and  the  papists.  Many  valuable 
books  were  then  published,containing  copious  and  clear 
illustrations  of  controversial  points,  and  unanswerable 
arguments  in  favour  of  our  tenets,  as  contrasted  with 
those  of  the  church  of  Rome,  which  are  deficient  only 
in  the  life  of  religion.  Thus  these  erudite  and  capti- 
vating works  became  often  as  injurious,  from  a  want 
of  the  principles  they  withheld,  as  they  were  beneficial 
by  what  they  taught;  leading  astray  from  those/wwrfa- 


DEFECTIVE  THEOLOGY.  389 

mental  and  essential  truths  upon  which  our  reformers, 
no  less  learned,  but  much  more  spiritual,  had  happily 
based  all  the  doctrines  of  our  church.  The  good  re- 
sulting from  a  powerful  defence  of  the  externals  of 
religion,  did  not  counterbalance  the  evil  arising  from 
an  omission  to  lay  due  stress  on  the  necessity  of  that 
internal  grace,  by  which  alone  man's  heart  can  be 
cleansed,  so  as  "perfectly  to  love,  and  worthily  to 
magnify"  a  God  in  Christ.  *'  They  stood,"  says 
Watson  truly,  in  his  life  of  Wesley,  "  between  the 
people  and  the  better  divines  of  the  earlier  age  of  the 
church,  and  put  them  out  of  sight :"  their  preaching, 
too,  was  of  so  cold,  though  refined  and  cultivated  a 
style,  that  while  it  engaged  and  gratified  the  reason,  it 
failed  to  awaken  the  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  Chris- 
tianity was  portrayed  as  to  the  proportions  and  linea- 
ments of  her  form,  by  hands  that  were  masters  of  the 
art ;  but  in  the  midst  of  all  the  graces  and  symmetry 
of  a  lovely  image,  life  was  wanting:  there  was  no  voice 
to  reach  the  ear,  no  animation  to  awaken  sympathy 
in  [the  heart.  Most  of  the  clergy  were  ignorant  of 
the  gospel,  and  were  content  to  add  to  a  liturgic  ser- 
vice, neither  understood  nor  appreciated,  a  brief  moral 
essay,  instead  of  preaching  Christ  and  Him  crucified.* 
This  deadness  was  not  peculiar  to  the  church  ;  the 
same  opiate  had  affected  every  religious  community, 
and  those  who  were  not  lulled  into  an  ignoble  repose, 
had  better  have  slept  than  been  employed  as  they 
were,  though  somewhat  drowsily,  it  is  true,  in  scat- 

*  "  For  a  long  season,"  says  Berridge,  "  the  good  old  church 
doctrines  have  been  much  forsaken ;  by  some  they  are  derided, 
and  by  many  deserted.  Yet  no  doctrines  can  build  the  church  of 
Christ  up  but  those  which  planted  it.  We  may  labour  much  in 
lopping  off  loose  branches  of  immorality  and  infidelity,  yet  nothing 
will  be  done  effectually  till  the  axe  is  laid  to  the  tree's  root." — He 
observes  further,  "  Men  are  rightly  treated  in  a  reading  desk,  and 
called  by  their  proper  name  of  miserable  sinners,  but  in  the  pulpit 
they  are  complimented  on  the  dignity  of  their  earthly,  sensual, 
devilish  nature ;  are  flattered  with  a  princely  will  and  power  to 
save  themselves ;  and  are  ornamented  with  a  lusty  badge  of  me- 
rit."— Christian  World  Unmasked. 

33* 


390  WESLEY  AND  WHITEFIELD. 

tering  the  seeds  of  Socinian  and  Aiitinomian  error: 
these  were  every  where  dropping  the  poison  of  the 
world  into  the  cup  of  salvation,  which,  like  the  fabled 
glass  of  old,  instantly  detects  the  uncongenial  infu- 
sion ;  the  mixture  becomes  agitated,  the  lovely  vessel 
bursts  into  a  thousand  fragments,  presenting  to  our 
view  only  broken,  scattered,  and  useless  remnants  of 
a  once  beauteous  whole. 

This  state  of  things  was  not  without  exceptions  in 
the  zeal  and  characters  of  some,  whose  light  rendered 
more  vivid  and  brilliant  by  surrounding  darkness, 
was  an  object  of  hatred  in  the  eyes  of  the  immoral, 
who  would  gladly  have  put  it  out  if  they  coidd.*  To 
profligacy  and  vice,  the  inhabitants  of  our  large  towns 
added  a  thorough  abhorrence  of  the  soleirm  warnings, 
which  denounced  the  awful  consequences  of  igno- 
rance and  sin,  and  formed  ready  combinations  with 
our  villagers,  to  insult  every  faithful  witness  who 
protested  against  their  abominations. 

Wesley  and  Whitefield,  when  they  first  entered  on 
their  arduous  labours,  had  all  these  difficulties  to  con- 
tend with :  they  had  not  to  dread  the  fire  and  the 
stake,  but  they  were  looked  upon  as  the  scum  and 
offscouring  of  the  earth,  and  were  treated  as  such. 
They  were  men  of  widely  diflferent  characters,  both 
as  respects  their  natural  dispositions  as  well  as  the 

*  Considerable  efforts  were  made  towards  the  end  of  the  six- 
teenth and  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  to  second  the 
objects  of  the  royal  proclamation  for  the  suppression  of  vice,  and 
some  thousands  of  convictions  for  immorality,  of  various  de- 
scriptions, took  place.  Great  exertions  were  also  made  for  the 
establishment  of  schools — vide  "  An  account  of  the  Rise  and 
Progress  of  the  Religious  Societies  in  the  city  of  London,  &€., 
and  of  the  Endeavours  for  the  Reformation  of  Manners  which 
have  been  made  therein,  by  Josiah  Woodward,  minister  of 
Poplar,  1698," — also  other  works  giving  a  history  of  the  manners 
of  that  period.  However  pious  and  laudable  these  exertions 
were,  they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  so  thoroughly  based  upon, 
gospel  principles,  and,  therefore,  not  so  efficient,  as  the  subse- 
quent labours  of  Whitefield,  Wesley,  and  their  contemporaries, 
who  struck  at  the  root  of  the  evil,  by  going  at  once  to  the  principle 
of  a  necessity  of  a  change  of  heart  as  the  source  of  true  morality 
and  virtue. 


WESLEY  AND  WHITEFIELD.  391 

discipline  of  their  minds,  and  painful  frailties  were 
visible  in  the  midst  of  their  true  greatness,  to  show 
that  we  are  to  regard  them  only  as  imperfect  instru- 
ments, while  the  entire  glory  of  all  they  etfected  is  to 
be  ascribed  to  God  alone.  An  ambitious  love  of  power 
was  evidently  the  besetting  weakness  of  John  Wes- 
ley ;  aspiration  after  the  honours,  when  he  had  no 
prospect  of  the  sufferings  of  martyrdom,  was  that  of 
\\liitetield.  In  his  letters  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  at 
the  beginning  of  this  volume,  it  is  evident  how  he 
courted  and  enjoyed  persecution ;  and  whenever  the 
Ji7'e,  to  use  his  own  expression,  ivas  kindled  in  the 
country, he.  was  not  satisfied  unless  honoured  by  being 
scorched  a  little  in  its  flame.  This  was  a  wrong  spi- 
rit, and  did  injury  to  his  own  mind  and  to  his  follow- 
ers, by  encouraging  a  morose  and  morbid  carriage 
towards  the  world,  giving  needless  offence,  and  provok- 
ing animosity,  in  those  they  might  have  attracted  and 
endeared  by  the  lovely  graces  of  true  Christianity. 
Wesley  had  nothing  of  this  sort  in  his  constitution, 
and  very  properly  resisted  violence,  when  offered  to 
himself  or  his  adherents,  in  a  legal  and  dignified  man- 
ner. His  people  had  been  insulted,  on  one  occasion, 
by  the  officers  of  a  regiment  quartered  at  Lowestoft, 
in  Suffolk  ;  he  immediately  wrote  to  inform  their  com- 
mandant of  the  fact,  and  asked  for  redress  with  be- 
comino;  firmness.  "  Before,"  said  he,  "  I  use  any  other 
method,  I  beg  of  you,  sir,  who  can  do  it  with  a  word, 
to  prevent  our  being  insulted  any  more.  We  are 
men  ;  we  are  Englishmen  ;  as  such,  we  have  a  na- 
tural and  a  legal  right  to  liberty  of  conscience."* 
That  Wesley  and  Whitefield  sowed  the  seeds  of  a  re- 
ligious revival  in  our  country  is  unquestionable,  and 
I  trust  it  will  therefore  be  considered  interesting,  thus 
to  notice  the  different  spirit  in  which  they  engaged 
in  the  same  enterprise. 

*  This  letter  is  amongst  the  valuable  collection  of  autographs 
in  the  possession  of  Dawson  Turner,  Esq.,  of  Yarmouth,  by  whom 
it  was  kindly  communicated  to  me. 


392  ENTHUSIASM  OF  WESLEY. 

I  have  mentioned,  that  the  defect  in  writino-s  on  re- 
hgion,  which  appeared  in  days  immediately  preceding 
those  of  the  revivahsts,  was  that  they  contained  httle 
or  no  aUusion  to  the  absolute  necessity  of  a  change  of 
heart  by  conversion,  as  the  true  source  of  the  social 
and  relative,  as  well  as  the  spiritual  duties  of  man. 
Preaching  morality  alone,  invariably  leaves  our  hear- 
ers unawakened  and  unreformed ;  nor  is  there  any 
pure  and  certain  virtue,  hut  such  as  proceeds  from  a 
renewed  and  sanctified  state  of  mind.  Hence,  when 
Wesley  and  Whitefield  began  their  labours,  they  struck 
at  once  at  the  root,  and  proclaimed  the  essential  but 
unpalatable  truth,  that  sinners  must  be  horn  again, 
and  that  the  only  proof  of  our  interest  in  a  Saviour's 
atonement,  is  a  soul  renewed  by  the  power  of  his  Holy 
Spirit.  Whatever  different  opinions  the  two  great  lead- 
ers had  of  the  evidences  and  knowledge  of  the  time  of 
conversion,  they  happily  agreed  that  it  was  a  work  of 
God  upon  the  heart,  and  that  its  fruit  was  holiness. 
The  credulous  mind  of  Wesley  led  him  often  to  mis- 
take for  divine  influences,  what  was  nothing  but  the 
overflowing  of  a  heated  enthusiasm  ;  and  it  is  not  a 
little  extraordinary,  that  so  acute  and  talented  a  man 
should  have  found  a  congenial  situation  in  the  midst  of 
persons  whose  bodily  contortions  were  a  melancholy 
caricature  of  the  genuine  eftects  of  conviction.  That 
Wesley  believed  such  fits  and  ravings  as  followed  his 
preaching,  to  be  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  none  of 
his  adherents  have  denied,  though  some  of  them  have 
endeavoured,  evidently  perplexed  at  the  absurdity,  to 
soften  down  his  opinions.  Whitefield  never  encou- 
raged these  excesses,  nor  did  he  consider  them  as  pro- 
duced by  the  Spirit  of  God.  Though  differing  as  to 
the  adjuncts  of  conversion,  the  champions  of  truth 
agreed  as  to  its  necessity,  cause,  and  effects,  and  were 
doubtless  instrumental  in  awakening  the  dormant 
energies  of  a  great  portion  of  their  thoughtless  fellow- 
creatures.  They  found  at  first  able  and  willing  coad- 
jutors in  the  United  Brethren ;  but  afterwards  a  sepa- 


ROMAINE.  393 

ration  took  place,  the  details  of  which  do  not  belong 
to  this  work. 

When  the  minds  of  Wesley  and  Whitefield  were 
diverted  from  present  effects  to  the  unprofitable  con- 
sideration o^ filial  causes,  equally  unfathomable  in  the 
natural  and  spiritu  al  system  of  things,  a  breach  between 
them  was  the  speedy  consequence.  Wesley  published 
a  sermon  on  the  doctrine  of  predestination,  pointing 
out  what  he  conceived  to  be  its  Antinomian  tendency, 
at  which  Whitefield,  who  drew  from  it  a  directly  op- 
posite conclusion,  took  great  offence.  The  contro- 
versy between  the  leaders  caused  a  disunion  of  their 
societies ;  but  in  January,  1750,*  the  supporters  of  vi- 
tal religion  were  gratified  by  witnessing  their  recon- 
ciliation. It  was,  however,  only  a  smothering  of  the 
flame,  which,  after  Whitefield's  death,  burst  forth  with 
an  unextinguishable  violence,  burning  to  this  hour, 
though  happily  with  diminished  vehemence. 

While  Whitefield  and  Wesley  were  engaged  in  ac- 
tive itinerancy,  Romaine  was  successfully  employing 
in  London  the  eftective  machinery  of  our  church,  by 
his  adherence  to  which,  he  gTafted  on  the  parent 
stock,  buds  that  are  now  filling  the  land  with  fruit- 
fiilness;  while  the  scions,  fixed  upon  many  other 
stems,  have  either  withered  away  or  produced  little 
else  but  leaves.  He  was  sincerely  attached  to  the  doc- 
trines and  discipline  of  our  establishment,  and  saw 
plainly,  that  to  bring  her  authority  into  reverence,  to 
make  her  services  comprehended,  and  preach  the 
truths  contained  in  her  articles  and  homilies,  was  the 
surest  way  of  doing  permanent  good.  Though  he 
did  not  depreciate  the  usefulness  of  enlightened  itine- 
rants, in  days  of  almost  universal  darkness,  he  clear- 
ly foresaw  that  without  consummate  prudence,  both 

*  The  forgiving  spirit  of  both  Whitefield  and  Wesley  was  most 
creditable  to  their  Christian  feelings.  When  Whitefield  died, 
John  and  Charles  Wesley  were  found  to  be  designated  in  his  will 
as  "  his  honoured  and  dear  friends,  and  disinterested  fellow-la- 
bourers ;"  and  Wesley  preached  a  funeral  sernaon  at  Whitefield's 
death  by  his  special  desire. 


394  EDWARD  SPENCER. 

evils  to  others,  and  dangers  to  themselves,  were  to  be 
apprehended  from  such  a  course.  Sir  Harry  Tre- 
lawny,  whose  correspondence  with  Mr.  Rowland  Hill 
has  been  already  referred  to,  earnestly  requested  Mr. 
Neale,  of  St.  Paul's-churchyard,  to  introduce  him  to 
Mr.  Romaine  in  his  vestry.  "  Well,"  said  Mr.  Neale, 
"as  you  so  much  wish  it,  I  certainly  will,  but  mind,  I 
do  not  promise  you  he  will  not  be  angry  witli  us  both, 
as  he  never  speaks  to  any  body  there."  They  went 
together  before  the  service,  and  Mr.  Neale  ventured 
to  say  to  Mr.  Romaine,  "Sir,  I  hope  you  will  give  me 
leave  to  bring  in  Sir  Harry  Trelawny,  who  is  very 
desirous  to  speak  to  you." 

"  O,  Sir  Harry  Trelawny  !  I  have  heard  of  him, 
you  may." 

On  Sir  Harry's  entering,  Mr.  Romaine  looked  at 
him  kindly,  and  said  in  a  solemn  tone, 

"Sir,  you  stand  npon  ice — now  you  must  excuse 
my  saying  more,  as  it  is  contrary  to  my  custom  to 
admit  persons  here." 

"Without  denying  that  wherever  the  necessity  of 
conversion  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ  was  urged  upon 
the  people,  both  religious  advantage  and  improved 
morals  were  the  happy  results,  I  think  it  will  appear, 
upon  looking  at  the  present  consequences  of  those  im- 
portant exertions,  that  the  greatest  ultimate  benefit 
has  flowed  from  such  as  adhered  to  the  rules  of  our 
church.  I  have  never  met  with  a  pious  nonconfor- 
mist who  questioned  the  usefulness  of  Romaine's 
ministry  in  London,  nor  the  value  of  his  admirable 
writings  :  and  if  we  look  to  places  far  removed  from 
the  metropolis,  we  shall  see  that  a  similar  blessing  has 
followed  the  well-regulated  exertions  of  devoted  clergy- 
men during  the  last  century.  Take  for  instance  the 
example  of  Edward  Spencer,  rector  of  Wingficld,  in 
the  county  of  Wilts.  He  was  brought  up  at  the  feet 
of  Whitefield,  and  was  acquahited  with  Wesley;  but 
he  refused  to  labour  without  the  pale  of  an  episcopal 
communion.     He  was  made  the  means  of  numerous 


BERRIDGE.  395 

conversions  while  curate  of  Bradford,  and  on  his  re- 
tirement to  Wingfield,  formed  a  school  upon  evangeli- 
cal principles,  in  which  several  of  our  zealous  clergy 
received  their  first  religious  impressions,  and  were  led 
to  enter  the  ministry  they  have  long  adorned.*  Much 
as  he  admired  Whitefield  and  Wesley,  Spencer  fore- 
saw the  danger  of  moving  with  their  rapid  and  eccen- 
tric evokitions,  and  the  evils  that  would  be  entailed 
on  posterity  by  the  divisions  of  their  parties. 

The  persons  who  had  most  influence  in  directing 
the  newly-awakened  mind  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  were 
Whitefield  and  Berridge,  to  the  former  of  whom  he 
was  more  particularly  led  by  his  brother  Richard,  who 
had  embraced  Calvinistic  opinions.  Lady  Hunting- 
don, also,  had  paid  him  considerable  attention  ;  but 
though  he  always  treated  her  memory  with  respect, 
and  vindicated  her  character  against  aspersions 
during  the  Wesleyan  controversy,  I  think  he  was 
not  one  of  her  ladyship's  most  cordial  admirers.  The 
mode  in  which  she  exercised  her  authority,  was  not 
suited  to  a  mind  impatient  of  restraint.  Berridge, 
when  he  made  himself  known  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill, 
was  in  the  zenith  of  his  activity,  and  together  with 
Whitefield,  inspired  him  with  a  kindred  ardour. 
Much  has  been  related  in  various  books,  of  the  ex- 
cesses of  the  followers  of  Berridge  ;  but  from  all  I 
have  ever  gathered  from  Mr.  Hill  on  the  subject  of 
his  character,  I  am  convinced  that  nothing  of  the 
sort  took  place  during  the  time  he  constantly  attend- 
ed at  Everton.    Whatever  enthusiasm  Berridge  may 

♦  Among  his  pupils  were  Crouch  and  Hill,  of  St.  Ednaund's 
Hall,  Oxford,  and  a  long  list  of  active  and  well-known  clergy. 
Middlcton  bears  testimony  to  the  excellent  character  of  Spencer 
in  his  "  Ecclesiastical  Memoir  of  the  first  four  decades  of  the 
reign  of  George  III,"  p.  48,  49.  I  was  under  his  tuition  for  seve- 
ral years,  and  well  recollect  being  taken  to  his  school  by  niy  be- 
loved relative,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  who  preached  in  Wingfield 
church,  where  the  crowd  wasso  excessive  that  Mr.  Hill  was  oblig- 
ed to  stand  upon  the  stairs  of  the  pulpit,  close  to  the  door,  while 
the  prayers  were  being  read.  Numbers  were  unable  to  gain  ad- 
mittance, but  the  windows  of  the  church  being  all  opened,  they 
stood  in  silence  in  the  churchyard  and  heard  the  sermon. 


396  whitefield's  want  op  system. 

have  manifested,  before  he  threw  off  the  opinions  of 
Wesley,  his  view  of  the  nature  and  mode  of  con- 
version, was  afterwards  sobered  down  into  a  right 
conception  of  that  glorious  work  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
upon  the  soul.  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  never  concealed 
his  own  opinion  of  these  fanatical  misrepresentations 
of  the  effects  of  a  divine  power  which  acts  gently  on 
the  heart,  and  I  have  even  heard  him  say,  "  John 
Wesley  was  too  willing  to  believe  in  such  extra\^a- 
gances  :  he  ought  to  have  known  better."* 

It  is  a  striking  and  encouraging  fact,  that  the  zeal- 
ous preachers  of  the  gospel,  who  sprung  up  in  the 
times  to  which  we  are  now  referring,  pointed  with  one 
consent  to  the  doctrines  of  our  church,  as  a  pure 
standard  of  truth.  They  foiuid  what  they  wanted  laid 
down  tbere  as  the  first  principles  of  religion,  namely, 
Reg'eneration  and  Justification  by  Faith,  the  latter  of 
which  Berridge  truly  called  "  the  jewel  of  the  gospel 
covenant,  the  ground-work  of  the  reformation,  [and] 
the  glory  of  the  British  church."  They  found  that 
our  Articles  contained  the  master-key  to  unlock  the 
dungeons  of  error,  in  which  Satan  had  long  confined 
his  willing  captives,  and  they  rejoiced  to  use  it,  but 
too  much  overlooked  the  necessity  of  arranging  in 
order  the  multitudes  who  were  set  free.  They  cut 
down  the  harvest  of  the  earth,  but  did  not  gather  the 
corn  into  sheaves,  so  that  it  became  the  easy  spoil  of 
every  bird  of  prey,  while  those  who  adhered  to  the 
discipline  marked  out  by  our  reformers,  if  they  reap- 
ed less,  collected  and  preserved  more.  Whitefield  ex- 
ercised an  arbitrary  control  over  his  immediate  fol- 
lowers and  friends,  and  carried  his  dictatorial  spirit 
at  times  almost  to  an  excess  ;  but  he  did  not  possess 
the  art  of  contriving  and  managing  any  organized 

*  Mr.  Rowland  Hill's  views  of  these  bodily  affections  may  be 
seen  in  the  Village  Dialogues — Dialogue  xlvi,  called  Enthusiasm 
detected,  where  the  subject  is  ably  treated.  The  names  also  of 
Peggy  Goosecap,  Sally  Fancy,  and  Janet  Mcagrim,  are  not  ill 
suited  to  the  characters  of  too  many  females  who  are  deplorably 
forgetful  of  the  coimsel  of  St.  Paul. 


EFFECTS  OF  WESLEY's  MANAGEMENT.  397 

system.  The  character  of  Wesley  was  precisely  the 
reverse ;  he  loved  power,  knew  how  to  res^ulate  his 
sect,  and  established  and  maintained,  by  a  skilful  ar- 
rangement of  his  classes  and  bands,  under  responsi- 
ble leaders,  an  extraordinaiy  influence  over  them. 
Lady  Huntingdon  did  the  same  to  a  certain  degree,  in 
the  formation  of  her  Connexion,  but  with  less  talent. 
Whatever  benefits  may  have  arisen  from  the  Metho- 
dist system,  it  has  unquestionably  led  to  some  evils. 
Watch-nights  and  love-feasts  have  often  acted  as 
hotbeds  to  force,  rather  than  as  warmth  to  cherish 
the  healthy  growth  of  rehgion ;  the  mode  of  conduct- 
ing classes,  in  which  believers  engage  to  tell  each 
other  the  true  state  of  their  souls,  leads  many  to  self- 
deception,  or  else  to  attempts  to  deceive  others;  while 
the  bands  of  perfect  individuals  generate  such  a  de- 
gree of  spiritual  pride,  that  even  Wesley  himself  found 
no  slight  difficulty  in  maintaining  them ;  and  it  is 
only  fair  towards  their  great  leader  to  believe,  that 
were  he  now  in  the  midst  of  his  people,  he  would  en- 
deavour to  remedy  many  of  these  defects. 

Whitefield's  zealous  spirit  exhausted  all  its  ener- 
gies in  preaching,  and  his  fiill  dedication  to  God  was 
honoured  by  unbounded  success.  The  effect  produced 
by  his  sermons  was  indescribable,  arising  in  a  great 
degree  from  the  most  perfect  forgetfulness  of  self, 
during  the  solemn  moment  of  declaring  the  salvation 
that  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  His  evident  sincerity  im- 
pressed every  hearer,  and  is  said  to  have  forcibly 
struck  Lord  Chesterfield,  when  he  heard  him  at  Lady 
Huntingdon's.  At  his  death  there  was  only  one  young 
man  to  be  found,  who  had  caught  the  fire  of  his  zeal, 
possessed  similar  powers  of  eloquence,  and  was  ac- 
tuated by  the  same  self-denying  and  disinterested 
spirit.  This  was  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  who  appeared 
in  many  respects  to  have  been  cast  in  the  same  mould. 
His  doctrines,  his  preaching  talents,  his  popularity, 
his  want  of  any  definite  system,  were  all  Whitefield 
again.  At  first,  Wesley  commended  the  exertions 
34 


398  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL  S  RESEMBLANCE 

of  the  youthful  itinerant,  especially  after  ho  heard, 
that  in  the  fulness  of  his  Catholic  spirit,  he  had 
attended  a  watchnight  at  Leeds;  and  young  Row- 
land was  flatteringly  assured,  that  the  next  of  those 
meetings  was  ^'•very  unlike  the  one"  they  had  when 
he  was  there !  Mr.  Hill  was,  however,  not  quite  so 
easily  caught  as  was  perhaps  imagined  :  and  we  have 
seen  with  what  severity  he  was  afterwards  attacked  by 
Wesley,  both  in  his  writings  and  from  the  pulpit,  when 
he  began  to  take  part  in  the  Calvinistic  controversy, 
the  mode  of  conducting  which  he  seemed  to  regret 
more  and  more,  as  each  successive  year  brought  him 
nearer  to  a  heaven  of  perfect  love.  I  believe  both  the 
vicar  of  Everton  and  his  young  friend  were  drawn 
into  the  dispute  by  the  imputations  cast  upon  their 
dead  and  living  fellow-labourers  ;  for  soon  after  the 
Bristol  meeting  in  1771,  caused  by  the  edict  of  Lady 
Huntingdon  relative  to  the  minutes  of  Conference  of 
the  preceding  year,  Berridge  wrote  thus  to  Mr.  Hill 
—"The  late  contest  at  Bristol  seems  to  turn  upon 
this  hinge,  whether  it  shall  be  Pope  John  or  Pope 
Joan.  My  dear  friend,  keep  out  of  all  controversy, 
and  wage  no  war  but  with  the  devil."*  Had  the  ex- 
cellent giver  of  the  counsel  followed  it  himself,  and 
thus  set  an  example  of  forbearance,  it  would  have 
been  the  means  of  saving  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  from 
many  hinderances  in  his  early  career,  and  many  pain- 
ful reflections  in  later  years. 

The  position  which  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  occupied  in 
the  midst  of  good  men  at  this  time  was  very  remark- 
able. The  followers  of  Whitefield  flocked  round  his 
standard,  owned  him  as  their  leader,  and  acknowledg- 
ed that  their  drooping  cause  was  revived  through  his 
instrumentality,  both  in  London  and  in  various  parts 
of  the  kingdom.  His  appearance  in  every  place  was 
the  signal  for  a  revival,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe 

♦  This  letter,  which  is  in  my  possession,  is  dated  Oct.  20th, 
1771 ;  the  Bristol  meeting  was  in  August  of  the  same  year. 


TO  WHITEFIELD,  WHOSE  CAUSE  HE  REVIVED.      399 

that  thousands  were  awakened  under  his  ministry. 
By  the  Methodists,  Mr.  Hill's  doctrines  were  altoge- 
ther misrepresented  ;  for  he  certainly  never  was  a  whit 
behind  Wesley  in  declaring  the  free  invitations  of  the 
gospel,  hat  only  marked  more  distinctly  the  impor- 
tant truth,  that  the  ability  to  accept  them  through  faith 
must  be  given  us  of  God.  He  preached  for  the  first 
time  at  his  curacy,  from  1  Cor.  ii.  1,  2,  on  June  20th, 
1773  ;  and  after  a  clear  and  faithful  exposition  of  his 
text,  concluded  in  these  words — "  Such  is  the  salvation 
that  my  whole  soul  prays  you  may  receive.  No  la- 
bours of  mine,  such  as  they  are,  will  ever  be  thought 
too  much  for  the  accomplishment  of  these  glorious 
purposes.  Suffer  me,  therefore,  to  conclude  by  be- 
seeching you,  by  all  tliat  is  dear  and  tender,  to  lay 
these  things  most  closely  to  heart.  While  I  thus  ad- 
dress you,  I  feel  the  most  affectionate  sympathy  to- 
wards you  that  words  can  possibly  express.  I  pray 
you,  therefore,  to  go  home,  and  lay  this  my  first  mes- 
sage to  heart.  The  expanded  arms  of  a  dear  Redeem- 
er are  now  open,  to  embrace  every  returning  prodio^al 
that  is  enabled  to  receive  this  gospel  call.  None  are 
too  vile  for  Mercy  to  receive.  The  Lord  of  love  has 
given  you  the  promise  ;  Whosoever'  cometh  to  me  I 
will  in  no  rcise  cast  out.  Even  so,  Lord  Jesus. 
Amen.   Amen."* 

At  the  time  when  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  delivered  the 
"  Gospel  Message"!  to  his  parishioners  at  Kingston, 
the  doctrines  contained  in  it  were  too  seldom  taught 
from  the  pulpits  of  our  church  ;  but  though  such 
ministers  were  comparatively  few  in  number,  they 
were  happily  not  extinct.  Mr.  Hill's  sermon  was  dedi- 
cated to  the  incumbent  of  his  parish,  the  Rev.  James 
Brown,  whom  he  calls  "  a  brother  beloved  in  the  gos- 
pel of  our  God,"  who  vigilantly  watched  over  the  spi- 

*  John  vi.  37. 

t  This  sermon  was  printed  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  King- 
ston, under  the  title  of  "The  Gospel  Message,  being  the  substance 
of  a  sermon  delivered  in  the  Parish  church  of  Kingston,  near 
Taunton,  June  20,  1773,  by  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill,  A.M." 


400  DEPRAVITY  OF  HUMAN  NATURE. 

ritual  interests  of  their  joint  charge,  while  his  curate 
was  engaged  in  itinerating.  Mr.  Hill,  when  a  young 
man,  looked  almost  upon  every  place  he  came  to  as  a 
fortress  of  Satan,  to  which  it  was  right  to  lay  siege, 
and  he  endeavoured  to  effect  his  object,  not  only  by 
attacking  external  bulwarks,  but  by  undermining  the 
very  foundation  of  the  stronghold.  To  this  end,  he 
commenced  with  declaring  the  depravity  of  human 
nature,  and  described  in  forcible  language  the  con- 
sequences of  the  fall,  of  which  the  following  striking 
specimen  is  found  in  his  first  discourse  at  Kingston ; 
— •■  When  our  first  parents  were  sent  forth  from  the 
hands  of  their  Greater,  their  hearts  being  the  direct 
transcript  of  his  moral  image, they  appeared  the  com- 
pletest  workmanship  of  a  holy  God,  [and]  were 
blessed  with  a  nature  as  spotless  and  pure  as  an 
anofel  could  possess.  All  love,  all  peace,  all  joy,  all 
delight  in,  and  conformity  to,  the  will  of  God  that 
made  them,  were  the  continual  inmates  of  their  happy 
breasts.  Not  the  least  taint  of  the  minutest  impurity 
had  they  to  disturb  their  peace,  but  all  was  heaven 
and  consolation  in  the  Lord.  God  pronounced  this, 
his  last  work,  to  be  very  good.,  and  as  such,  took  de- 
light in  the  creature  that  he  had  made — Such  was 
man,  while  blessed  with  innocence  before  the  fall ; 
but  how  dreadful  were  the  consequences  of  the  first 
transgression  !  How  was  God's  workmanship  robbed 
of  all  its  holiness  and  grandeur  thereby  !  How  was 
this  once  glorious  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  prostitu- 
ted to  iniquity,  and  converted  into  the  most  hateful 
den  of  filthy  lusts  and  vile  abominations !  Which  of 
you  can  deny  this,  who  either  reads  his  bible  or  reads 
himself?  From  Genesis  to  Revelation  all  scripture 
declares  this  awful  truth,  that  as  soon  as  ever  man 
fell,  immediately  was  he  deprived  of  every  thing  that 
was  good  and  dreadfully  filled  with  every  thing  that 
was  bad."  He  proceeds,  "  as  the  salvation  procured 
by  a  crucified  Redeemer,  can  never  be  regarded  by 
anv  but  those  who  have  been  first  convinced  that 


INVITATIONS  TO  SINNERS.  401 

they  are  lost  without  it,  the  fall  must  be  preached  as 
an  introduction  to  the  gospel."  In  declaring  the  doc- 
trine of  original  sin,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  used  to  lay 
great  stress  upon  the  expression  quam  longissi?ne* 
in  our  ninth  article,  which  he  would  translate,  the 
furtherest possible ;  but  whatever  his  opinions  on  the 
mysterious  subject  of  election  may  have  been,  nothing 
could  be  more  decided  than  his  invitation  of  sinners 
to  Christ.  As  an  instance,  I  will  give  the  concluding 
appeal  of  his  sermon  on  the  death  of  his  friend  Rou- 
quet.-^"  Every  moment  brings  you  nearer  to  eternity. 
How  then  will  you  bear  to  stand  in  the  presence  of  a 
holy  sin-avenging  God,  whose  authority,  you  have  de- 
fied, and  whose  gospel  you  have  hitherto  despised  ? 
O  that  some  alarming  word  might  constrain  you  to 
fly,  hastily  to  fly,  from  the  wrath  to  come  !  Death  and 
destruction  alone  are  before  you  while  you  continue 
living  in  sin.  But  thanks  be  to  God  for  his  unspeak- 
able gift !  Christ  is  revealed  as  the  salvation  of  the 
lost ;  whosoever  cometh  shall  certainly  be  received, 
for  his  promise  stands,  he  will  in  710  ivise  cast  them 
out ;  the  poor,  the  'maimed,  the  halt,  and  the  blind, 
are  all  alike  to  him.  He  loves  to  magnify  the  riches 
of  his  mercy  to  the  returning  sinner.  Such  is  the 
adorable  Christ  that  is  now  ready  to  snatch  you  as 
brands  from  the  burning,  and  make  you  standing 
monuments  of  mercy  and  salvation.  The  same 
Lord  that  called  our  brother  from  his  sins,  saved 
him  by  his  grace,  and  has  now  brought  him  to  glory, 
stands  waiting  to  receive  the  basest  that  lives  upon 
earth.  O  that  I  could  prevail !  I  point  you  to  that 
lovely  sacrifice,  the  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away 
the  sins  of  the  world ;  to  his  mercy  I  commend  you, 
and  may  his  salvation  be  the  happy  portion  of  all  our 
hearts."  That  such  was  the  tenor  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill's  preaching  in  his  latter  days,  is  known  to  the 
multitudes  who  heard  him ;  but  my  object  is  to  vin- 

♦  The  expression  is,  "  ab  originali  justitia  quam  longissime 
distet,  &c." 

34* 


102  PLATO  S  VIEW  OF  HUMAN  NATURE. 

dicate  his  ministerial  character  from  the  doctrines 
imputed  to  him,  wliile  he  was  the  associate  of  Top- 
lady,  and  the  follower  of  Berridge. 

Notwithstanding  the  irregularities  of  Mr.  Rowland 
Hill,  he  lived  on  terms  of  most  affectionate  union  with 
the  zealous  clergy,  who  agreed  with  him  in  doctrine, 
and  felt  the  importance  of  the  momentous  truths  he 
taught.  Equally  opposed  by  the  world  as  himself, 
they  united  with  him  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel. 
Wherever  the  depravity  of  man's  nature,  salvation  as 
it  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  the  necessity  of  regeneration,  and 
justification  by  faith,  were  faithfully  preached,  a  spot- 
less life  proved  no  defence  against  a  multitude  of 
enemies.  Those  who  upheld  the  dignity  of  human 
nature,  could  not  endure  the  humbling  declaration  of 
their  lost  and  helpless  condition  ;  but  in  contending 
ao-ainst  this  truth,  they  proved  themselves  to  have  less 
lisfht  in  the  day  of  Christianity,  than  heathen  philoso- 
phers possessed  during  the  night  of  Pagan  darkness. 
Even  Plato  declared  the  result  of  his  observations  on 
man,  to  be  a  conviction  that  evil  was  hereditary  in  his 
nature,*  from  which,  through  ignorance  of  the  true 
remedy,  he  laments  that  no  refuge  can  be  discovered.t 
"  I  have  heard,"  says  this  philosopher,  "  from  wise 
men,  that  we  are  dead,  and  our  body  is  a  tombf'X  but 
this  doctrine,  during  the  early  hfe  of  Mr.  Hill,  drew 
down  upon  him  and  his  friends  every  species  of  oblo- 
quy, hatred,  and  persecution,  from  those  who  forgot 
that  they  were  giving,  by  their  violence,  a  practical 
demonstration  of  the  very  truths  they  were  contend- 
ing asfainst. 

"Tlie  same  ties  which  united  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to 
many  of  his  pious  brethren  in  the  church,  bound  him 
also  both  to  zealous  laymen  and  active  nonconformist 
ministers.   They  all  gazed  so  intensely  on  the  light  to 

*  His  expression  is  av^<p\)TOv  UaaTO)  kokov  Ka'i  voarnia. 

+  a'!!n(pwr]v  ovScfjiinfi  firiy^dvarai. 

t  'Eycoyf  i^KOvaa  rcov  aoipdv,  uj  vvv  hftii  TtdvS^tv'  fcoi  to  jiiv  ctjfia  tariv 


J.  WESLEY.  403 

which  they  pointed,  that  minor  objects  were  lost  in 
the  full  blaze  of  its  celestial  beams.  In  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  Mr.  Burder,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  observes — 
"  Consider,  my  dear  brother,  with  what  a  united  heart 
and  spirit,  you  and  I  travelled  throug-h  the  North  of 
England  in  our  younger  days;  not  an  idea  struck  us 
but  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith  towards  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  This  was  the  exact  state  of  the 
case:  they  laboured  together  to  uproot  the  noxious 
plant  of  unbelief  by  its  roots,  and  to  raise  in  its  stead 
the  tree  of  life;  and  the  singleness  of  their  design 
will  cause  their  failings  to  be  forgotten  and  for- 
given in  these  days,  when  the  essential  portions 
of  the  principles  they  upheld,  are  widely  diffused 
throughout  the  globe,  and  extensively  honoured  in 
our  nation. 

While  the  parties  into  which  zealous  men  had  been 
divided,  waged  a  controversy  of  lirinclple  with  the 
world,  they  differed  amongst  themselves  in  a  great 
degree,  though  not  altogether,  about  words.  In  his 
sermon  on  Jer.  xxiii.  6,  the  Lord  our  righteousness, 
Wesley  makes  these  admirable  remarks — ^"Men  may 
differ  from  us  in  their  opinions  as  well  as  their  ex- 
pressions, and,  nevertheless,  be  partakers  of  the  like 
precious  faith.  It  is  possible  they  may  not  have  a 
distinct  apprehension  of  the  very  blessings  which 
they  enjoy:  their  ideas  may  not  be  so  clear,  and  yet 
their  experience  may  be  as  sound  as  ours."  He  like- 
wise deprecates  our  being  "rigorous  in  requiring 
others  to  use  just  the  same  expressions"  as  our  own. 
At  the  conclusion  of  his  sermon  on  attending  the 
church  service,  Wesley  also  says — "  nearly  fifty 
years  ago,  a  great  and  good  man.  Dr.  Potter,  then 
archbishop  of  Canterbury,  gave  me  an  advice  for 
which  I  have  ever  since  had  occasion  to  bless  God  : 
'  If  you  desire  to  be  extensively  useful,  do  not  spend 
your  time  and  strength  in  contending  for  or  against 
such  things  as  are  of  a  disputable  nature,  but  in  tes- 
tifying against  open  notorious  vice,  and  in  promoting 


404  J.  WESLEY. 

real  essential  holiness.'  Let  us  keep  to  this  :  leaving 
a  thousand  disputable  points  to  those,  that  have  no 
better  business  than  to  toss  the  ball  of  controversy 
to  and  fro."  This  determination,  like  the  advace  of 
Berridge  to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  was  most  excellent : 
but  when  heated  by  disputation,  how  do  the  best  of 
men  forget  to  abide  by  their  owai  counsel.  In  the 
sermon  on  the  "Wedding  Garment,"  we  find  Wesley 
calling  the  opinion  of  those  who  believed  the  "  linen 
white  and  clean,"  in  wdiich  the  saints  will  appear 
before  God,  to  be  the  imputed  righteousness  of  Christ, 
Antinomian  jargon  !  This  was  not  in  itself  a  veiy 
gentle  expression,  and  certainly  rather  contradictory 
to  the  sense  conveyed  in  the  verse,  Avhich  he  quotes 
from  his  Methodist  hymn  book,  in  a  sermon  on  "The 
Lord  our  righteousness."  as  containing  a  proper  ex- 
planation of  his  sentiments  : 

Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness 
My  beautj-  are,  vuj  glorious  dress  : 
'Midst  flaming  worlds,  in  these  array'd, 
With  joy  shall  I  lift  up  my  head. 

If  Wesley  did  not  choose  to  toss  the  ball  of  contro- 
versy to  and  fro,  he  undoubtedly  threw  it  very  hard 
at  supporters  of  the  doctrine  of  election,  when  he 
asserted  in  his  sermon  on  "  Free  Grace,"  that  they, 
though  unintentionally,  represented  "  the  Most  High 
God  as  more  cruel,  false,  and  unjust,  than  the  devil." 
To  say  nothing  of  using  language  such  as  this,  the 
unfairness  of  it  must  be  evident,  to  all  who  know 
how^  constantly  those  whom  he  attacked  endeavour- 
ed to  magnify  the  infinite  love  of  God  to  a  sinful 
world.  However  contradictory  the  doctrines  of 
"WHiitefield  and  others  may  have  appeared  to  Wesley, 
they  could  not  be  more  so  than  the  expressions  just 
quoted  from  the  w^orks  of  the  latter,  nor  than  his 
notions  on  perfection,  when  he  says  that  it  is  not  the 
perfection  of  angels,  or  of  Adam,  nor  does  it  "  exclude 
ignorance,  and  error,  and  a  thousand  other  infirmi- 


MR.  FLETCHER.  405 

ties."  Now  it  is  a  singular  kind  of  jjerfection*  that 
lacks  all  these  requisites ;  and  is  much  the  same  as 
though  a  man  were  to  call  a  thing  infinite  or  eternal, 
but  at  the  same  time  premise  it  was  not  so  infinite 
as  infinity,  or  eternal  as  eternity  !  I  am  free  to  ad- 
mit, that  too  great  warmth  was  exhibited  in  these 
contests  by  each  party,  but  the  entire  blame  is  not  due 
to  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  and  his  fiiends.t  Had  they 
properly  defined  their  different  expressions  befoje  they 
used  them,  and  met  in  the  same  spirit  as  at  the  Bristol 
Conference  in  1771,  the  conduct  of  these  good  men 
might  have  been  set  forth  as  an  example,  where  it  can 
now  only  be  mentioned  as  a  warning.  Whenever  Mr. 
Rowland  Hill  had  been  betrayed  into  a  degree  of  un- 
becoming warmth,  he  was  always  ready  to  confess  it. 
Speaking  of  some  remarks  he  had  made  on  Fletcher, 
he  says — "  I  am  sorry  his  name  was  mentioned  in  the 
last  pamphlet,  with  the  least  apparent  disrespect,  as  I 
still  hope  and  pray  the  time  may  come,  when  he  will 

*  Vid.  sermon  on  the  text,  let  us  go  on  unto  ferfection :  Heb. 
vi.  1.  The  Greek  word  ri:^cioTriTa,  here  translated  perfection,  is 
evidently  contrasted  with  the  expression  rov  rfn  ^^^(ni  t<jv  'Kpicruv 
\6yov,  and  is  thus  admirably  explained  by  Beza — "  sermonem 
justitise  convenientem  adultis,  et  ab  elementali  distinetum" — they 
were  to  leave  elementary  principles,  and  to  proceed  to  a  course 
of  inquiry  suited  to  a  maturer  growth  in  Christianity. 

t  I  have  made  these  remarks  upon  Wesley's  share  in  this  con- 
troversy, because  I  think  a  larger  portion  of  blaine  has  been  cast 
upon  my  venerable  relative  for  his  conduct  in  it  than  he  merited. 
Southey  observes — "  On  the  part  of  the  Calvinists,  the  most  con- 
spicuous writers  were  the  brothers  Richard  (afterwards  Sir 
Richard)  and  Rowland  Hill,  and  Augustus  Montague  Toplady, 
vicar  of  Broad  Hembury,  in  Devonshire.  Never  were  an}'  wri- 
tings more  thoroughly  saturated  with  the  essential  acid  of  Cal- 
vinism than  those  of  the  predestinarian  champions.  It  would 
scarcely  be  creditable  that  three  persons  of  good  birth  and  educa- 
tion, and  of  unquestionable  goodness  and  piety,  should  have  car- 
ried on  controversy  in  so  vile  a  manner,  and  with  so  detestable  a 
spirit — if  the  hatred  of  the  theologians  had  not  unhappily  become 
proverbial." — Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  pp.  373,  374.  Admitting 
that  they  were  not  free  from  blame,  I  trust  this  useful  and  emi- 
nent writer  will  allow  that  they  had  great  provocation.  Oh  that 
the  terms  Calvinist  and  Arminian  had  never  been  invented  to 
divide  those  who  love  our  common  Saviour  ! 


406  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS.       EDUCATION. 

express  his  concern  for  the  many  gross  misrepresen- 
tations of  our  sentiments,  he  hath  sent  forth  to  the 
world  in  the  warmth  of  controversy,  and  gladden  the 
hearts  of  thousands,  who  respect  him  as  an  honest 
though  mistaken  man,  by  renouncing  merit,  and  ex- 
alting the  Saviour,  as  all  in  all  to  the  believing  soul. 
This  many  good  people  have  been  taught  to  do,  who 
still  diifer  in  some  points  relative  to  particular  election 
and  universal  redemption."  Watson  says,  that 
Fletcher's  writings,  though  greatly  admired  among 
the  Wesleyans,  are  not  admitted  as  standards  of  their 
doctrines. 

Mr.  Rowland  Hill  had  the  honour  of  introducing 
Sunday  schools  into  the  metropolis  of  his  native  coun- 
try, institutions  which  have,  when  properly  manaoed, 
been  most  efficient  aids  to  a  faithful  preaching  of  the 
gospel,  and  are  the  legitimate  field  for  an  exercise  of 
well  regulated  zeal,  in  such  laymen  as  are  willing  to 
devote  themselves  to  the  work  of  teaching.  The 
bishop  of  Rochester,  Dr.  Horsley,  viewed  these  rising 
institutions  with  suspicion,  and  made  some  severe  re- 
marks upon  them,  in  a  charge  to  the  clerg)^  of  his 
diocess.  His  objections  were  replied  to  by  Mr.  Hill, 
in  a  sermon  on  the  oris^in,  present  design^  and  real 
utilify  of  Sunday  schools  ;  in  which  he  assures  his 
lordship,  his  notion  that  they  were  mixed  up  with  po- 
litical views  was  unfounded,  and  that  any  teacher 
would  be  instantly  dismissed  who  taught  any  thing 
of  the  kind,  except  obedience  upon  scriptural  princi- 
ples to  the  powers  that  be.  Education,  considered 
in  the  abstract,  cannot  be  pronounced  a  benefit  in  a 
moral  or  a  civil  sense  ;  that  depends  entirely,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  on  what  is  taught,  and  the  spirit  in 
which  it  is  conveyed  ?*  Instruction,  through  a  wrong 
medium,  is  like  the  rays  of  the  sun  concentrated  and 

*  See  some  excellent  remarks  on  this  subject  in  a  late  charge  ot 
that  most  exemplary  and  universally  respected  prelate,  the  bishop 
of  Winchester. 


MR.  hill's  regard  FOR  THE  CHURCH.  407 

transmitted  through  the  focus  of  a  burning  glass,  the 
etFect  of  which  is  to  ignite  and  consume,  not  to  en- 
hghten. 

That  Whitefield,  Wesley,  Hill,  and  others,  were 
the  means  of  not  only  awakening  numbers  who  at- 
tended on  their  preaching,  but  of  frequently  exciting 
the  zeal  that  was  wanting  in  many  of  the  ministers  of 
our  church,  is  a  fact  which  it  is  impossible  to  deny ; 
but  wherever  the  clergy  began  to  exert  themselves 
with  due  diligence,  there  a  check  was  immediately 
given  to  the  spread  of  irregularity.  This  effect  was 
always  foretold  by  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  whom  nothing 
seemed  to  gratify  more  thoroughly,  than  to  see  him- 
self deserted  through  the  influence  of  clergymen,  who, 
to  use  his  own  expression,  "  preached  the  doctrines 
from  their  hearts  they  had  subscribed  with  their  hands." 
I  have  frequently  said  to  him — "Sir,  such  a  one  does 
not  come  to  your  chapel  now" — "  No,"  he  would  re- 
ply, "  I  should  scold  him  well  if  he  did,  to  leave  such 
a  minister  as  he  has  in  his  parish  church."  Mr.  Hill 
was  also  fully  alive  to  the  freedom,  notwithstanding 
imaginary  restraints,  possessed  by  the  parochial  cler- 
gyman, compared  with  the  fettered  situation  of  a  mi- 
nister dependant  upon  the  uncertain  favour,  and  un- 
der the  direction  of  his  flock :  the  sheep  guiding  the 
shepherd.  "  I  certainly,"  I  have  heard  him  say,  "pity 
a  priest-ridden  people,  wherever  they  are  to  be  found, 
all  the  world  over ;  hntdi  people-ridden  priest  is  a  still 
greater  object  of  compassion."  Happily,  the  laws  of 
our  establishment  provide  against  both  these  evils,  al- 
lowing the  people  full  liberty  of  conscience,but  placing 
the  minister  beyond  the  reach  of  those  capricious  fan- 
cies, in  which  the  majority  of  any  congregation  may 
choose  to  indulge.  Thirty-two  years  before  his  death, 
Mr.  Rowland  Hill  thus  addressed  his  flock  in  Surry 
chapel — "  I  have  a  right  to  declare  my  predilection  in 
favour  of  our  own  establishment.  Her  public  liturgy 
is  a  public  blessing  to  the  nation ;    nor  is  there  a 


408  PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  MINISTRY. 

church  upon  the  earth  that  so  much  promotes  the 
abundant  reading  of  the  word  of  God.  While,  there- 
fore, I  love  her  constitution,  I  may  grieve  over  a  fatal 
declension  from  her  original  doctrines,  and  wish 
for  her  farther  reformation ;  still,  as  she  is  she  may 
stand  !"  Living  as  he  did  to  see  a  daily  increasing 
diligence  jn  her  members,  from  the  highest  to  the 
lowest,  and  a  disposition  to  make  such  wise  modifi- 
cations in  her  system  as  the  lapse  of  time  may  have 
rendered  necessary,  he  deprecated  still  more  strongly 
any  thing  approaching  to  demolition,  a  feeling  in 
which,  it  is  but  fair  to  add,  many  temperate,  con- 
scientious dissenters  fully  participate. 

I  have  in  this  chapter  endeavoured  to  point  out  the 
situation  which  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  filled  in  the  midst 
of  his  contemporaries,  and  the  motives  by  which  he 
was  guided,  during  the  early  days  of  a  religious  revi- 
val in  our  country.  The  more  recent  acts  of  his  life 
have  been  sufficiently  adverted  to  in  other  parts  of  this 
volume,  and  are  fresh  in  the  recollection  of  the  pub- 
lic. He  however  frequently  committed  the  mistake  of 
encouraging  pious  young  men  to  become  preachers, 
who  had  a  gift  of  speaking,  without  the  other  essen- 
tial requisites  for  such  an  important  function ;  differ- 
ing in  this  particular  from  the  practice,  not  only  of 
the  church,  but  of  the  majority  of  dissenters,  who 
bestow  much  pains  in  training  their  candidates  for 
the  sacred  office.  The  mode  of  ministerial  tuition 
adopted  by  the  latter,  has  often  been  held  up  as  more 
calculated  to  effect  the  object  in  view,  than  the  course 
of  study  prescribed  by  our  universities,  but  I  think 
without  due  consideration.  Lord  Bacon  held  it  to  be 
an  error,  that  scholars,  in  his  days,  "  came  too  unripe" 
to  the  pursuits  of  logic  and  rhetoric ;  and  the  same  ob- 
servation will  apply  to  the  study  of  divinity,  which 
is  best  apprehended  by  minds  first  subjected  to  the 
discipline  of  a  regular  course  of  academical  learning. 
Many  of  the  most  distinguished  ornaments  of  our 


VALUE  OF  ACADEMICAL  STUDIES.  409 

courts  of  law,  prepared  themselves  for  those  attain- 
ments by  which  they  have  risen  to  deserved  eminence, 
by  aspiring  to  and  gaining  the  highest  honours  of  Ox- 
ford or  Cambridge ;  and  brought  to  the  arduous  task 
of  learning  their  profession,  an  intellect  sharpened 
and  set  in  order  for  the  work,  by  a  previously  well-re- 
gulated exercise  of  the  reasoning  powers,  and  a  classi- 
cal cultivation  of  the  taste.  The  same  principle  ap- 
plies to  the  study  of  theology,*  a  premature  learning 
of  which  leads  only  to  superficial  and  unprofitable 
knowledge,  because  the  understanding  itself  has  not 
been  previously  raised  above  the  capacity  of  youth, 
by  due  and  well-regulated  degrees.  How  far  prepa- 
ratory exercises  may  be  made  to  bear  more  strongly 
on  the  after  life  of  practice,  is  another  question  ;  but 
if  ever  any  false  notions  of  preparation  for  action,  be 
allowed  to  supersede  the  long  established  system  of 
mental  training,  we  shall  cease  to  enjoy  many  bless- 
ings of  which  we  may  be  justly  proud,  and  which  are 
so  much  to  be  ascribed  to  the  erudition,  as  well  as  to 
the  zeal  of  clerical  members  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land. Learning  combined  with  piety,  like  what  is 
called  toning  in  a  print,  gives  grace  and  beauty  to 
the  impression. 

In  my  humble  attempt  to  delineate  the  character  of 
my  beloved  relative,  I  trust  I  have  not  fallen  into  the 
error  of  concealing  his  failings;  I  feel, therefore,  that 
I  may  venture  to  conclude,  by  pointing  to  a  few  of 
those  graces  of  which  he  was  a  bright  example.  The 
first  of  these,  is  the  devotion  of  his  youth  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God.  While  yet  a  boy  at  school,  he  was  the 
means  of  the  conversion  of  some  of  the  same  tender 
age  as  himself,  the  remembrance  of  which  shed  a 
beam  of  peace  and  joy  over  the  entire  course  of  his 

*  It  ought,  however,  to  be  remarked,  that  the  study  of  the  Greek 
Testament,  of  the  Evidences,  and  various  theological  works,  is 
far  from  being  neglected  in  our  Universities,  where  also  great 
encouragement  is  given  to  proficients  in  the  Hebrew  language. 

3.5 


410         EXCELLENCES  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

long  protracted  journey  through  life.  This  work 
will  not  be  written  in  vain,  if  the  history  of  Mr.  Row- 
land Hill,  and  his  pious  relatives,  be  the  means  of 
inducing  any  youthful  reader  to  seek  the  same  hap- 
piness they  found  in  the  enjoyment  of  early  piety. 

Another  excellency  which  shone  brightly  in  this 
eminent  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  was  the  highest 
spirituality,  accompanied  with  the  deepest  humility. 
Although  the  love  of  approbation  was  the  leading 
quality  of  his  mind,  he  never  once  forgot,  in  the 
midst  of  the  applause  which  welcomed  him  every 
where  in  his  latter  days,  to  prostrate  himself  in  dust 
and  ashes  before  God,  and  the  riper  he  became  in 
grace,  the  more  fervent  were  his  supplications  for 
humility. 

Mr.  Hill  was  also  an  example  to  every  Christian,  in 
the  retirement  of  his  family.  It  was  impossible  to 
be  the  inmate  of  his  house  and  not  love  him ;  he  neg- 
lected none  of  those  little  acts  of  kindness,  which 
make  up  the  sum  of  human  happiness  in  private  life : 
and  his  uniform  cheerfulness  gave  an  inexpressible 
charm  to  the  circle  of  his  fire-side.  With  respect  to 
his  conduct  to  his  servants  and  dependants,  the  very 
words  he  used  in  eulogizing  the  memory  of  Rouquet, 
are  applicable  to  himself  "  He  beheld  his  servants 
as  fellow-creatures,  and  knew  that  they  had  as  much 
right  to  happiness  as  himself.  Disdainful  looks, 
proud,  snappish,  severe  speeches,  which  some  can 
make  use  of  upon  every  supposed  offence,  were  never 
seen  or  heard  from  him  :  hence  none  of  those  chan- 
ges appeared  among  his  servants,  which  so  sadly 
disgrace  the  families  of  many.  From  the  best  of 
principles  they  were  bound  to  serve  him,  the  prin- 
ciple of  love."* 

I  may  also  use  Mr.  Hill's  description  of  the  cha- 
racter of  Rouquet  as  a  friend,  to  describe  his  own. 
"  As  a  friend,  from  a  very  intimate  acquaintance 
*  Funeral  sermon  on  the  death  of  Rouquet,  p.  19. 


EXCELLENCES  OF  MR.  ROWLAND  HILL.  411 

with  him,  give  me  leave  to  bear  my  testimony,  that 
one  more  constant  and  sincere,  I  never  found  ;  to 
have  equalled  him  would  have  been  difficult,  to  have 
excelled  him  impossible.  And  no  wonder  ;  an  ex- 
perimental knowledge  of  the  friend  of  sinners,  is  the 
only  true  basis  upon  which  real  disinterested  friend- 
ship can  be  built.  From  the  best  of  motives,  there- 
fore, he  was  of  a  more  generous  turn,  than  to  love 
in  prosperity  alone :  in  adversity  he  was  the  same, 
his  conduct  was  invariable  throughout."* 

Another  characteristic  of  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  was  a 
spirit  of  universal  disinterested  benevolence,  such  as 
rendered  him  truly  deserving  of  the  affectionate  tes- 
timony given  to  his  worth  by  the  bishop  of  Winches- 
ter, who,  in  addressing  the  members  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  soon  after  his  death,  de- 
scribed him  as  an  individual  "  associated  in  their 
minds  with  every  thing  pious  and  benevolent."  I 
have  before  alluded  to  his  courtesy  towards  visiters 
and  applicants  of  every  kind,  and  the  unbounded 
generosity  with  which  he  relieved  the  necessities  of 
those  who  he  laiew  intended  no  imposture.  All 
ministers  have  not  the  means  of  giving  to  the  needy, 
but  all  may  be  ^^  pit  if  id  and  courteous^ 

The  last  trait  in  the  character  of  my  venerable 
guardian  I  shall  mention,  is  the  determination  he 
acted  on  to  go  nowhere  liut  as  a  minister,  the  conse- 
quence of  which  was,  that  he  was  universally  useful, 
I  do  not  so  much  allude  to  his  public  engagements, 
as  to  his  private  intercourse  with  his  friends  ;  and  all 
wiio  were  favoured  with  his  acquaintance,  will  ac- 
Imowledge  that  he  appeared  as  much  a  pastor  in 
their  houses,  as  he  did  when  urging  them,  in  ani- 
mated appeals  from  the  pulpit,  to  walk  in  the  light 
of  the  Lord.  Whenev^er,  also,  he  saw  any  thing  in 
the  private  life  of  his  friends  which  he  considered 
inconsistent  with  a  profession  of  religion,  he  never 
*  Funeral  sermoa  on  the  death  of  Rouquet,  pp.  19,  20, 


412  CONCLUSION. 

failed  to  point  it  out,  but  with  such  evident  kindness 
and  dehcacy,  that  detects  were  corrected,  without 
feehngs  being-  wounded.  Where,  however,  gentle 
remonstrance  was  unavailing,  he  did  not  scruple  to 
rebuke  the  faults  of  his  people. 

To  draw  folk  to  heaven  with  fairness, 
By  good  example,  this  was  his  business. 
But  if  he  knew  any  person  obstinate, 
"Whether  he  were  of  high  or  low  estate, 
Him  would  he  reprove  sharply  for  the  nonce. 
A  better  priest  I  trow,  no  where  there  is ; 
He  waited  after  no  pomp  or  reverence ; 
He  made  himself  no  spiced  conscience, 
But  Christ's  lore,  and  his  apostles  twelve 
He  taught,  but  first  he  followed  it  himself. 

Chaucer. 


THE  END. 


DANIEL  APPLETON  &  CO., 

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royal  4to,,  elegantly  printed,  bound  in 
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in  sheets. 
This  is  the  most  valuable  and  useful  edition 
ever  published  either  for  the  pulpit  or  fam- 
ily use. 

BAGSTER'S  BIBLIA  SACRA,  being  the 
real  Polyglott  Bible  in  ten  different 
languages,  su]ierbly  printed  in  one  volume 
folio,  splendidly  bound  in  Turkey  moroc- 
co gilt,  or  in  sheets. — This  splendid  work 
is  without  exception,  the  most  magnificent, 
ever  published,  and  is  offered  at  a  very 
low  price. 

BIBLES — n  very  extensive  assortment  of 
London,  Oxford,  Cambridge,  &.c.,  editions 
of  the  Bible  ol  the  various  sizes,  l)indings, 
and  prices— also  all  the  standard  editions 
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constantly  on  hand. 

CRUDEX'SCONCOPvDANCE:  complete  in 
One  ro\  al  svo.  volume,  for  $'3.5U  ;  in  which 
many  th  jusand  error  are  i  orrected  from 
the  best  American  and  Eng  ish  (editions. 
'1  his  superior  edition  i^  published  in  Lon- 
don, anil  by  us  in  this  country,  from  the 
duplicate  plates,  'i'o  show  liow  favorably 
il  has  be  n  received  in  Eiir.  pu,  the  follow- 
ing are  extracted  : 

"To  every  student  ol  the  Bible,  and  to  most 
Christian  Families,  a  Concordance  is  in- 
dispensable, and  Criiile  I  is  llie  best  be- 
yond comparison." — MdUvJul,  .Uag-azim 


ENGLISH  EDITIONS  OF  STANDARD  THEOLOGY. 


"  We  rejoice  to  see  this  exquisitely  beautiful 
edition,  wliicli  ousht  to  be  possessed  by 
eveiy  Christian." — Evangelical  Magazine. 

"  Mr.  ^  ounptnan  states  the  fact,  tliat  in  tbi' 
fir,-t  fitly  pases  of  the  best  4to.  edition 
have  been  di.<covered  nearly  one  hundred 
typographical  errors.  'J'he  publishers  of 
the  present  edition,  have  adopted  every 
precaution  for  the  attainment  of  the  hich- 
cst  degree  of  accuracy.  It  is  an  interesting 
and  beautiful,  and  we  had  almost  said  sur- 
prising, specimen  of  the  typographical  art." 

— -Christian  Jldvocate. 

DR.  DODDRinGE'S  MISCELL.\NEOUS 
WORKS,  Complete  in  1  vol.,  royal  8vo., 
for  S4,5'i. 

MATTHEW  HENRY'S  MISCELLANE- 
OUS WORKS,  with  portraits  of  hiin-elf 
and  wife,  complete  in  1  vol.,  bvo.,  being  in 
size  and  style  with  his  commentary,  and 
bound  in  fine  calf  to  match,  for  §7. 

DR.  DODDRIDGE'S  FA.MILY  EXPOSI- 
TOR  OV  THE  NEW  TESTAME.NT: 
complete  in  1  vol.  royal  Svo.with  a  portrait. 

"  The  Family  Expositor  needs  not  our  praise, 
'It  should  find  a  place  (says  a  celebrated 
biographer)  upon  the  shelf  and  upon  the 
table  of  every  mansion  wheie  the  moral 
duties  of  a  Christian  are  enjoined.  Dod- 
dridge's heart  was  made  up  of  all  the  kind- 
lier affections  of  our  nattire.'  As  for  typo- 
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it  is  greatly  to  be  preferred  to  atiy  other 
ediiion." — Congregational  Magazine. 

This  f  dition  is  far  superior  to  the  Aiuerican, 
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BISnor  PEARSON  on  the  Creed,  in  1  vol. 

8vo. 
BISHOP   BURKLEY'S  complete    works, 
3  vols.  8vo. 


W\T30N'SB0DY  OF  DIVINITY,  1  vol., 
8vo. 

BISHOP  PORTEUS'  Lectures  on  St.  Mat- 
thew, 8vo. 

BISHOP  IIORNE'S  COMME.NTARY  on 
the  P-alms,  svo. 

POLYMICRIAN  GREEK  LIBRARY,  con- 
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ance, and  Lexicon,  beautifully  bound  in 
morocco  gilt,  unifoim  ;  all  of  which  may 
be  conveniently  carried  in  the  pocket,  fur 
only  $i,fiO. 

BISHOP  BURNET'S  EXPOSITION  of  the 
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GREEK  SEPTUAGINT— the  beautiful 
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cloth,  only  SI  50. 

REV.  THOMAS  ROBINSON'S  Scripture 
Characters :  or  a  practical  improvement  of 
the  principal  histories  in  tlie  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  seventh  edition,  1  vol.,  8vo., 
cloth,  very  low. 

THE  BRITISH  PREACHER,  under  the 
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appear  inits  pages,  3  vols  ,  bvo  ,  cloth. 

BISHOP  BUTLER'S  complete  works,  1  vol. 

8vo. 

ARCHBISHOP  TILLOTSON'S,  complete 
work^,  in  10  vols  8vo.,  extra  calf— reduced 
price. 

VANDERHOOT'S  EDITION  OF  THE 
HIiBREW  BIBLE,  fine  paper,  1  vol., 8vo., 
fine  English  calf  binding,  for  only  S3. 

JOSKPHUS'  HISTORY  of  the  Jews  in  one 
vol.  complete,  calf  and  boards — very  low. 

FRENCH,  Spanish,  H.  brew,  Latin,  Italian 
&c.  Testaments,  in  neat  poi  ket  volumes. 

SCHLEUSNER'S  LEXICON  of  the  New 
Testament,  in  3  vols,  thick  8vo.,  S8. 

POOLE'S  SYNOPSIS,  5  vols.  Folio  vellum. 


ENGLISH    EDITIONS    OF    MISCELLANEOUS    WORKS. 


ANTIQUARIAN  ITINERARY, 500 engrav- 
ings, 7  vols.,  8vo..  cloth — 31  "2. 

ALLEN'S  PRINCIPLES  of  Modern  Riding 
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BORDTR  ANTIQUITIES  of  Great  Britian 
and  Ireland,  ly  Sir  Walter  Scott,  2  vols., 
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ARCHITECTURAL  WORKS,  a  very  ex- 
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GALLOWAY'S  HISTORY  OF  STEAM, 
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GIBBON'S  DErLINE  AND  FALL  OF 
THI-;  RO.MAN  EMPIRE,  complete  in 
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large  type,  for  65,50. 

HUME  AND  SMOLLET'S  HISTORY  OF 
ENGLAND,  with  portraits  of  Hume  and 


Smollet,  together  with  the  sovereigns  and 
statesmen,  complete  in  1  vol.,  royal  8vo.; 
S6. 

TH  E  COMPLETE  WORKS  OF  WILLIAM 
ROBERTSON,  D.D.,  to  whih  is  prefixed 
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Dugald  Stuart,  F.R  S.,  Ed  in.,  with  a  por- 
trait al'ter  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds;  1  vol., 
royal  8vo.,  S5,50. 

The  above  works  are  complete  library  edi- 
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HOGARTH'S    COMPLETE     WORKS,   2 

2  vols.,  4to.  ;  S2j. 

URE'S  DICTIONARY  OF  CHEMISTRY, 
4th  ediiion,  1  vol.,  8vo.    S4. 

JAMlESON'.S  DICTIONARY  of  Arts  and 
Sciences,  with  many  plates,  a  valuable  and 
rare  work,  1  vol.,  4lo.,  various  bindings 

DR.  JOHNSON'S  royal  bvo.  Dictionary, 
containing  every  thing  to  be  found  in  the 
lar;;est  edition  — 55,50. 

KELLY'S  UNIVERSAL  CAMBIST  AND 
COMMERCI.\L  INSTRUCrOR;  being 
a  full  and  accurate  treatise  on  the 
exchanges,  monies,  weights,  and  meas- 
ures, of  all  trading  nations  and  their  colo- 
nies, with  an  account  of  their  banks,  pub 
lie  liinds  and  paper  currencies  Second 
edition,  2  vols  ,  4to. — §7. 


I 


ENGLISH  EDITIONS  OF  MISCELLANEOUS  WORKS. 


KING'S  ORIGIN  OF  F.VIL,  4to. 

MARTIAL  ACHIEVEMENTS  of  Great 
Britain,  and  on  tlie  continent  of  Europe. 

SELECT  VIEWS  in  llie  various  countries 
of  Europe,  by  the  first  masters. 

GOUGUET'S  Origin  of  Law,  3  vols.,  8vo. 

PROFESSIONAL  ANECDOTES  of  Medi- 
cal Men.  with  portraits,  fac-similies,  etc- 
c!  vols.,  cioti).    Sl,75 

FOSTER  GALLERY,  consisting  of  52 
splendid  folio  plates,  by  the  first  masters — 
an  elegant  work — only  $18. 

ENGRAVING ,  large  and  elegant,  a  valua- 
ble and  superb  assortment,  in  quantities  to 
suit  purchasers. 

AYSCOUGH'S    INDEX   to  Shakspeare,  1 

vol.,  royal  8vo.,  cloth.    $3. 
BURTON'S  Anatomy  of  Melancholy  2  vols., 

8vo.    But  a  tew  copies  of  the  edition  of 

this  rare   and   curious  work   remain   on 

hand. 
COSTUMES   of   the   various   countries  of 

Europe  &c.,  splendidly  executed  in  folio 

and  8vo.  volumes. 

BELSHAM'S  CHRONOLOGY,  from  the 
earliest  period  to  the  present  time,  1  vol., 
24mo.,  ex. — 62  cts. 


AINSWORTH'S  LATIN  AND  ENGLISH 

Dictionay,  the  best  edition  having  all  the 
words  of  the  4to  ,  beautifully  executed  in 
1  vol.,  royal  8vo.,  very  low. 
FRENCil  AND  ENGLISH  DICTIONARY, 
containing  full  explanations,  definitions, 
synonyms,  idioms,  proverbs,  terms  of  art 
and  science,  and  rules  of  pronunciation 
in  each  language,  compiled  from  all  the 
standard  dictionaries,  by  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Wilson,  late  professor  of  French  in  St. 
Gregory's  College.  I  vol.,  royal  8vo.,  vari- 
ous bindings. 

Tliis  is  the  most  complete  and  correct  edi- 
tion, being  adapted  to  an  English  or  French 
scholar. 

FEMALE  ENCYCLOPEDIA  of  Domestic 

Economy,  many  plates,  1  vol.,  8vo.,  cloth 
—$1,50. 

HOOK'S  ROMAN  HISTORY,  from  the 
building  of  Rome  to  the  ruin  of  the 
Coninionweallh  with  numerous  plates, 
maps  &c.,  3  vols.,  8vo.,  very  low. 

ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  THE  PASSIONS, 
with  an  essayonduelling,  by  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy.    2  vols.,  8vo.,  $1,  75. 


GERMAN    EDITIONS     OF    THEOLOGICAL    WORKS. 


Calvin's  Epistles,  3  vols. 

RosenmuUeron  the  ew  Testament.  5  vols. 

"  "      "  abridgment  of  the  Old 

as  far  as  published. 

Koppii  New  Testament,  complete. 

Kuinoel's  Commentary,  complete. 

Gessenius'  "  " 

Tholluck's  "  " 

Kuttner  and  Nicholson's  German  &  English 
Dictionary,  3  vols  ,  8vo. 

Gessenius'  Arabic  Thesaurus,  8vo. 

"  Hebrew  and  Latin  Lexicon,  8vo. 

Weber's  German  and  English  Dictionary. 

Tronmius'  Concordance. 

Buxtorf's  " 

Bretchneider's  Lexicon  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, 8vo. 


Leopold's  Hebrew  Lexicon.    18mo. 

Freightag  Lexicon,  Arabic,  complete. 

V'Ess  Greek  Septuagint,  8vo. 

Knapp's  Greek  Testament. 

Griesbach's  Novum  Testamentum. 

Castelli  Lexicon  Syriacum. 

Hoffman  Gramatica  Syriaca. 

Hahn's  edition  of  the  Hebrew  Bible,  very 
low. 

Simoni's  Lexicon  Hebraica. 

Lexicon  Gracce  Latinum  Manuale. 

Rosenmuller  on  the  Pentateuch,  3  vols. 

Knappii  Scripta  varii  argumenti  2  vols.  A 
complete  assortment  of  all  the  Leipsig 
Editions  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  classics  in 
quantities,  at  reduced  prices. 


AMERICAN    EDITIONS     OF    STANDARD    THEOLOGY. 

NEW     EDITIONS    JUST    PUBLISHED. 


ISAIAH,  a  now  translation,  with  a  prelimi- 
nary dissertation,  and  noli'.'i,  critical,  philo- 
logical, and  explanatory,  bv  Robert  Luwth, 
D.  D.  F.  R  SS  ,  Lond.  &  (Joeth  ,  Lord 
Bishop  of  London,  from  the  tenth  Eng;isli 
edition,  carefiillv  corrected  and  revised  ■ 
alsoNOW  FIRST  ADDFD  an  appendix, 
containing  th,; essential  variations  from  the 
translations  of  Lowih,  by  .Michai^l  Dodson. 
Esq..  and  .losofdi  Stock,  D.  D,,  Rishop  of 
Killalaii,  containing  47  i  pages,  hand-:omely 
printed  in  one  vol.,  8vo.,  cloth.— $1,50. 

EEV  WM.  .lAY'S  complete  works,  3  vols., 
8vo  ,  hheep. 


REV.  RORERT  HALL'S  complete  works, 

3  vols.,  Hvo.,  cloth. 

MURDOCH'S    TRA,\SI;AT10N    of    Mo- 
sheinrsEcclesiiisiical  History,  3vols.,8vo. 
MURKAY  ST.  DISCOURSES,  Rvo. 

Ri:V.  .lOIIN  MASON'S   complete  works,' 

4  vols.,  Hvo.,  very  \crw. 

lilSHOP  HORN  on  the  Psalms,  8vo. 

"  "        Introdnclion  to  the  critical 

study  of  the  Scriptures,  4  vols.,8vo.,  sheep 
JONES'  Church  History,  1  vol.,  8vo. 


AMERICAN  EDITIONS  OF  STANDARD  THEOLOGY. 


HUNTER'S  Kacred  Biography,  1  vol.,  Svo., 

very  low. 
KNAPP'S     THEOLOGY,    translated    by 

Leonard  Woods,  Jr.,  2  vols., 8vo. 
REV.    A.NDUEW    FULLER'S     complete 

works,  •■>  vols.,  Hvo. 
PRESIDENT  I) WIGHT'S  Theology,  4  vols., 

8\\>. 
DR.  CHALMER'S  complete  works,  I  vol., 

Svo. 

CUTTERWORTH'S    Concordance,    8vo., 
sheep. 

mCKERSTETII'S  works,  complete  1vol., 
8vo.,  sheep. 

REV.  RICHARD  CECIL'S  works,  3  vols., 
J2ino. 

BUCK'S    Theological    Dictionary,  various 
editions. 

BROWN'S  Dictionary  of  the  Bible,  Svo. 
BROWN'S  Philosophy,  2  vols.,  Svo. 
PALEyS  complete  works,  Svo. 
NEWTON'S  works,  2  vols.,  8ov., 

"  '•      on  the  Prophecies, 8. vo 

BP.  WATSON'S  Body  of  Divinity,  Svo. 
PROF.  STU ART'S  Commentary  on  the  Ro- 
mans, Svo. 

"  "  Hebrews,  Svo. 

"  "  Hebrew  Grammar,  Svo. 

"  "  Chrisloniathy,  Svo. 

"  "  Course  of  Hebrew  stu- 

dy, Svo. 


GIBB'S  Manual  of  Hebrew  Lexicon,  Svo. 

•JAIIN'S  .Arc'ia-ology,  8vo. 

Li  jWTH'S  Lectures  (m  Hebrew  Poetry,  Svo 

DR.SPRAGUE'S  LECTURES  on  revivals' 
of  reli<;l()n,  with  additional  letters,  second 
edition,  1  vol.,  12iiio. — SI. 

REV.  T.  TOMASON'S  MEMOIRS,  late 
Chaplain  to  tlK;  Hon.  East  India  Com- 
pany; by  the  Rev.  J.  Sargent,  author  of 
Alemoirs  of  Henry  Mariyn.     1  vol.,  12mo. 

GOSPEL  SEEDS,  or  a  collection  of  unpub- 
lished pieces  on  the  revealed  truths  of  the 
Word  of  God,  by  the  Rev.  Cssar  Melan, 
12mo,  cHtli. 

IVIMEY'S  LIFE  OF  MILTON,  1  vol., 
12m,o. 

J.  M.  CRAMPE'S  Text  Book  of  Popeiy, 

:2m. o. 

CRUDEN'S  CONCORDANCE,  containinR 
all  the  words  to  be  found  in  the  large  work 
relating  to  the  New  Testament,  by  the  Rev. 
Wm.  Palton,  32mo. 

CALMET'S  DICTIONARY  of  the  Bible, 
royal  Svo. 

JAMES'S  FAMILY  MONITOR,  12mo., 
half  bound. 

JAYS  MORNING  &  EVENING  Exercises, 
2  vols 

REV.  DR.  M.VSON'S  complete  woiks,4  vols. 
Very  low. 

SCHIMEALL'S  SCRIPTURE  Chart,  ele- 
gantly mounted  on  rollers  or  in  book  form. 

SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES,  by  Rev.  A.  Keith, 
2  vols  ,  cloth. 


AMERICAN    EDITIONS     OF    MISCELLANEOUS    WORKS. 


SPARKS'S  AMERICAN  Biography,  vol.  1. 
TUCKER'S  Light  of  Nature,  4  vols.,  Svo. 
DANIEL   WEB:STER'S   SPEECHES,  and 
Forensic  Arguments,  1  vol.,  Svo.,  cloth. 

DUGALD  STEWART'S  complete  works, 
7  vols.,  Svo. 

LIFE  OF  THOMAS  EDDY,  by  Samuel  L. 
Knapp,  1  vol.,  Svo. 

JUDGE  MARSHALL'S  Life  of  Washing- 
ton, 3  vols.,  8vo. 

A  COMPLETE  ASSORTMENT  of  the 
Standard  editions  of  the  Poets,  in  various 
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JOHN  MILTON'S  Poetical  works,  fine  edi- 
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BOSWELL'SLifeofDr.Johnson,2vols.,Svo. 
SHAKSPEARE'.-i  complete  works,  2  vols., 

Svo, 
DR.  JOHNSON'S  complete   works,  2  vols 


WALTER  SCOTT'S  complete  works,  7 
vols.,  Svo. 

CAMPBELL'S  Philosophy  of  Rhetoric,  1  vol. 
Svo 

LIFE  &  W^RITINGS  of  John  Jay,  2  vols., 
Svo. 

JEFFERSON'S  Complete  works,4vols.,8vo. 

HARPER'S  FAMILY  LIBRARY,  in  any 
quantity. 

SCHOOL  BOOKS— a  complete  assortment 
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BLANK  BOOKS,  ClUILLS,  PAPER,  to 
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stantly on  hand. 


EDMUND  BURKE'S  complete  works,3  vols. 

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